𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: (Topic 1.

2) Rates of Change

The 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 between any two points on a graph of 𝑓(𝑥) is the _________ through those points.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞

𝑦2 − 𝑦1
Average Rate of Change (AROC) =
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
1. Find the ________________ of the function for the given interval.

2. Find the ___________ between these two points.

𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟏: Find the average rate of change of the following functions on the given intervals.
𝑥+1
a. 𝑓 (𝑥) = −𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 on [−2, −1] b. ℎ(𝑥) = on [1, 4]
𝑥+6

𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟐: The graph of 𝑔(𝑥) is shown below. Find the average rate of change of 𝑔 (𝑥) over the interval [−1,3].

𝑡 (year of birth) 1850 1900 1950 2000

𝐴(𝑡) (age in years) 46.10 53.63 70.65 81.83

𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟑: The table above lists the life expectancy of US females born in a given year. Find the average rate of
change in the life expectancy of US females born from 1850 to 2000. Include units of measure.

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: Topic 1.2 Rates of Change Created by Bryan Passwater

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞? ? ?

The idea of instantaneous rate of change is equivlalent to finding the rate of change of a function at a given point.
This concept is developed formally and used in calculus, but we can approximate the rate of change at a point by
using the ______________ _________ ___ _______________ over ___________ ________________.

𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟒: A ball is thrown vertically in the air. For 0 < 𝑡 < 5, the height of the ball is modeled by the function
ℎ (𝑡) = −4.9𝑡 2 + 25𝑡 + 5, where ℎ is measured in meters and 𝑡 is measured in seconds. Find the average rate of
change in the height of the ball over the following intervals. Include units of measure.

a) [1, 1.1] b) [1, 1.01] c) [1, 1.001] d) [0.999, 1]

Based on 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟒, what do you think is the true rate of change in height of the ball at time 𝑡 = 1 second?

The rate of change of a function at a particular point is the rate that the y -values would change if the x-values
changed at that point. This concept is what we will call instantaneous rate of change later in calculus.

While we cannot find the rate of change at a particular point in AP Precalculus, we can do the following two things:

1. We can ______________________ the rate of change at a point by finding the average rate of change over a very
small interval.

2. We can ________________ rates of change at two different points by estimating individual rates of change using the
concept of a tangent line.

Note: When we discuss the rate of change of a function, we are essentially discussing the slope of the graph.

If the graph of f has a positive rate of change, then the graph of f is increasing. Likewise, if the graph of f has a
negative rate of change, then the graph of f is decreasing.

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: Topic 1.2 Rates of Change Created by Bryan Passwater

𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟓: For each scenario below, determine whether the two quantities typically have a positive rate of change
or a negative rate of change.

a) A child’s age versus the child’s b) A golfer’s skill level versus the c) The height from the ground of
height. golfer’s score. a coin dropped off the Burj
Kalifa versus the speed of the
coin as it falls.

Estimating Rates of Change at a Point

The graph of f is shown above along with the line ________________ to f when x = −4 . In calculus, we will learn
that the slope of the line tangent to the graph of f at any given point is the true rate of change of f at that point.

While we cannot find this slope in AP Precalculus exactly, we can sketch the tangent line and estimate the rate of change.

Example 6: Estimate the rate of change of f at x = −4 using the slope of the line tangent to f at x = −4 .

Example 7: Sketch the tangent lines to f at the five points indicated on the graph above.

Example 8: Does the graph of f appear to have a greater rate of change at x = 4 or x = 5 ? Explain your reasoning.

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: Topic 1.2 Rates of Change Created by Bryan Passwater

Rates of Change and Graphical Behavior

Connecting Rates of Change of f with the Graph of f

If the rate of change of f is positive the graph of f is increasing

If the rate of change of f is negative the graph of f is decreasing

If the rate of change of f is increasing the graph of f is concave up

If the rate of change of f is decreasing the graph of f is concave down

Example 9: The graph of f is shown above. Complete the blanks below to correctly describe the graph of f and the
rate of change of f .

The graph of f is _____________________ and concave ___________ because the rate of change of f is

___________________ and the rate of change of f is ______________________.

Be careful when answering questions about graphical behavior! Pay close attention to the wording of each statement—does
it refer to the graph of f or the rate of change of f ?

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: Topic 1.2 Rates of Change Created by Bryan Passwater

Example 10: For each of the following graphs, circle the correct descriptions for the behavior of each graph .

The graph of f is… The rate of change of f is…

positive/negative positive/negative

The graph of f is… The rate of change of f is…

increasing/decreasing increasing/decreasing

The graph of g is… The rate of change of g is…

positive/negative positive/negative

The graph of g is… The rate of change of g is…

increasing/decreasing increasing/decreasing

The graph of h is… The rate of change of h is…

positive/negative positive/negative

The graph of h is… The rate of change of h is…

increasing/decreasing increasing/decreasing

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: Topic 1.2 Rates of Change Created by Bryan Passwater