Rate of Change

y
x

y = mx + b
Calculus: rate of change 1 / 20
 Average Rate of Change: Definition

The average rate of change of a function f(x)

from x1 to x2 is:

change in f ( x) f ( x2 ) − f ( x1 )
=
change in x x2 −x1
Calculus: rate of change 2 / 20
 Average Rate of Change: Example

Find the average rate of change for function

y = mx + b
By
B
y change in f ( x) f ( x2 ) − f ( x1 )
=
Ay
change in x x2 −x1
b A x
Ax Bx

Calculus: rate of change 3 / 20

 Average Rate of Change: Example

average rate of change: y = mx + b

change in f ( x) f ( x2 ) − f ( x1 )
=
change in x x2 −x1

y B − y A (m xB − b )− (m x A − b )
=
xB − x A xB − x A

Calculus: rate of change 4 / 20

Average Rate of Change: Example

average rate of change: y = mx + b

y B − y A (m xB − b )− (m x A − b )
=
xB − x A xB − x A

Δy m ( xB − x A ) − b − ( − b )
=
Δx ( xB − x A )

Calculus: rate of change 5 / 20

 Average Rate of Change: Example

average rate of change: y = mx + b

change in f ( x) Δy
= =m
change in x Δx

The average rate of change of a linear

function (y = mx + b) over any interval is m.
Calculus: rate of change 6 / 20
 Average Rate of Change: Example

But the gradient of Δy

the straight line is =m
Δx
For a linear function (graph is straight line),
the gradient of the line is
the average rate of change of the function.

Write this down!

Calculus: rate of change 7 / 20
 Average Rate of Change: non-linear

change in f ( x) f ( x2 ) − f ( x1 )
=
change in x x2 −x1

f(x)
y2 −y1
y2 =
y x2 −x1
y1 x
Δy
x1 x2 =
Calculus: rate of change
Δx 8 / 20
 Average Rate of Change: non-linear

The average rate of change of any

function over an interval is the gradient
of the cord joining the endpoints.
f(x)
y2 Δy
y = m
Δx
y1 x
x1 x2
Calculus: rate of change 9 / 20
Average Rate of Change: non-linear

average rate of change over an interval:

gradient of the cord joining the endpoints

y
y
x
y
x x
Calculus: rate of change 10 / 20
 Rate of Change: non-linear example
Text messaging rate after practice:

50

40
What is your rate
w=2t
Total words, w

2
after 3 minutes
30
of practice?
20
Reminder: rate is
10
not the value of the
function, but how
quickly that value is
1 2 3 4 5 changing.
time, t, (min)
Calculus: rate of change 11 / 20
 Rate of Change: non-linear example

50 What is your rate

40
after 3 minutes
w = 2 t2 of practice?
Total words

30

20 slope m = ?

10

1 2 3 4 5
time (min)
Calculus: rate of change 12 / 20
 Rate of Change: non-linear example
After 3 minutes...

50 Approximate by
average word
40
w = 2 t2 rate between 3
Total words

30 w and 5 minutes...
20
t increase in words Δw
10 =
increase in time Δt
1 2 3 4 5
time (min)
Calculus: rate of change 13 / 20
Rate of Change: non-linear example
After 3 minutes...

w = 2 t2

2 2
Δw 2 × 5 −2 × 3
=
Δt 5 −3

Δw 50 −18 32
= = = 16 words / min
Δt 2 2

Calculus: rate of change 14 / 20

 Rate of Change: non-linear example
After 3 minutes...

w = 2 t2
50

40
m = 16
Total words

30
m=?
20 ...try average word
rate between 3 and
10
4 minutes...

1 2 3 4 5
time (min)
Calculus: rate of change 15 / 20
 Rate of Change: non-linear example
After 3 minutes...

w = 2 t2

Δw 2 × 4 2 −2 × 32
=
Δt 4 −3

32 −18 14
= = = 14 words / min
1 1

Calculus: rate of change 16 / 20

 Rate of Change: non-linear example
After 3 minutes...
w = 2 t2
start finish Δw / Δt rate

3 5 32/2 16

3 4 14/1 14

3 3.5 6.5/0.5 13
3 3.1 1.22/0.1 12.2 Looks like
0.1202 / about 12
3 3.01 12.02
0.01 wpm
Calculus: rate of change 17 / 20
3
 Rate of Change: non-linear example
What about at t = 1 min?
w = 2 t2
Do it symbolically between t =1 and t = 1+t :

Δw f (t + Δt ) − f (t )
=
Δt Δt
2 2 2
Δw 2(t + Δt ) −2t 2 + 4Δt + Δt −2
= =
Δt Δt Δt
= 4 + Δt
Calculus: rate of change 18 / 20
 Rate of Change: generalization
What about at t = 1 min?

50

40
w = 2 t2
30
words

Δw
20
lim = lim [4 + Δt ]= 4
Δt →0 Δt Δt →0
10
slope m
1 2 3 4 5
time (min)
Calculus: rate of change 19 / 20
 Rate of Change: Concluded

Definition:
rate of change at t =
slope of tangent line at t =
gradient at t

Δy Δf (t ) f (t + Δt ) − f (t )
lim = =
Δt → 0 Δt Δt Δt
If t not to 0, then this is average rate.
Calculus: rate of change 20 / 20
 A little practice on rates of change…
Note, in the next set (#5) we’ll see how
to do this with MUCH LESS algebra.

Calc_PS_4_rate_of_change_vA.pdf

For a more detailed in-depth view, see:

http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcI/
Tangents_Rates.aspx

Calculus: rate of change 21 / 20