Calculus 2.

1 Average and Instantaneous Rate of Change Notes

Write your questions
and thoughts here!
Recall: Rate of Change

If per Independent
Dependent
Slop ∆
Slope “Dependent” per “Indepenent”
∆

Average rate of change on the interval 𝑎, 𝑏 is represented by f f

Average rate of change from a function.
Find the average rate of change of 𝑓 𝑥 ln 3𝑥 over the interval 1 𝑥 4.

ffjfd lnl3
dz d3 0.1162

Average rate of change from a table.

𝑥 0 2 7 30
Ifs 𝑓 𝑥 3 2 5 7

Find the average rate of change over the interval 2 𝑥 30.

3T miles perhour

Average Rate of Change:

The following quotients express the average rate of change of a function over an interval.

or

This is also theslope

slope of theSecant
secant line. X a

Instantaneous Rate of Change:

The following limits express the instantaneous rate of change of a function at 𝑥 𝑎.

lim or lim
→ →

This is also theSlope

slope of thetangent
tangent line. X A
Write your questions Find the instantaneous rate of change of 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 at 𝑥 1.
and thoughts here! x
a lim lim
→ →

11 Chil CHENNI
110 ht.mn f 2

Identify the function we are working with. Then identify the x-value for the instantaneous
rate of change (slope of the tangent line at a point).
1. lim 2. lim
→ →

Function: 𝑓 𝑥 5 ln
Function: 𝑓 𝑥 sin 𝑥
Instantaneous rate at 𝑥 4
Instantaneous rate at 𝑥

2.1 Average and Instantaneous Rate of Change

Calculus
Practice
Find the average rate of change of each function on the given interval. Use appropriate units if necessary.
1. 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 2; 1, 3 2. 𝐴 𝑡 2 ; 2, 4 3. ℎ 𝑚 tan 𝑚 4; ,
𝑡 represents years
ℎ represents hair
𝐴 represents dollars
𝑚 represents months

4. 𝑎 𝑥 ln 𝑥 on the interval 2 𝑥 7. 5. 𝑓 𝑥 cos 𝑥 on the interval 1 𝑥 0.

Use the following table to find the average rate of change on the given interval.
𝑡
0 3 4 12 13
(Minutes)
𝑠 𝑡
2 4 7 5 10
(Feet)
6. 3, 13 7. 0 𝑥 12 8. 3, 4

Use the following graph to find the average rate of change on the given interval.
y


x

         






9. 5 𝑥 2 10. 1, 5 11. 4 𝑥 2

The graphs of 𝒇 and 𝒈 are given below. For each function, find the average rate of change on the given
interval.
y

f(x) 


x

        



g(x) 

12. ℎ 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 𝑔 𝑥 on 4,3 13. 𝑘 𝑥 𝑓 𝑔 𝑥 on 4,0 14. 𝑤 𝑥 𝑔 𝑓 𝑥 on 2,3

 𝒇 𝒂 𝒉 𝒇 𝒂
Find the instantaneous rate of change of each function at the given x-value. Use the form 𝐥𝐢𝐦 .
𝒉→𝟎 𝒉
15. 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 at 𝑥 1 16. 𝑓 𝑥 √𝑥 at 𝑥 5 17. 𝑓 𝑥 at 𝑥 2

𝒇 𝒙 𝒇 𝒂
Find the instantaneous rate of change of each function at the given x-value. Use the form 𝐥𝐢𝐦 .
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙 𝒂
18. 𝑓 𝑥 2𝑥 3𝑥 4 19. 𝑓 𝑥 √3𝑥 at 𝑥 7 20. 𝑓 𝑥 at 𝑥 2
at 𝑥 3

Each limit represents the instantaneous rate of change of a function. Identify the original function, and the
x-value of the instantaneous rate of change.
√ 22. lim 23. lim
21. lim → →
→

Function: 𝑓 𝑥 Function: 𝑓 𝑥
Function: 𝑓 𝑥
Instantaneous rate at 𝑥 Instantaneous rate at 𝑥
Instantaneous rate at 𝑥

24. lim 26. lim

→ 25. lim →
→

Function: 𝑓 𝑥 Function: 𝑓 𝑥 Function: 𝑓 𝑥

Instantaneous rate at 𝑥 Instantaneous rate at 𝑥 Instantaneous rate at 𝑥

27. lim √ √ 28. lim

→
→

Function: 𝑓 𝑥 Function: 𝑓 𝑥

Instantaneous rate at 𝑥 Instantaneous rate at 𝑥

2.1 Average and Instantaneous Rate of Change Test Prep
29. Let 𝑓 be the function defined by 𝑓 𝑥 ln 7𝑥. The average rate of change of 𝑓 over the interval 2, 𝑎 is 41,
where 𝑎 2. Which of the following is an equation that could be used to find the value of 𝑎?

(A) 𝑓 𝑎 41 (B) 𝑓 𝑎 𝑓 2 41

(C) 41 (D) 41

30. Find the average rate of change of 𝑓 𝑥 sin 𝑥 ln 𝑥 on the interval 1 𝑥 𝑎.

31. Today’s school lunch was inappropriately thrown over the school fence by Mr. Kelly. For 0 𝑡 90, the
amount of food remaining (assuming no animals eat it) is modeled by 𝐹 𝑡 544.311 0.907 , where 𝐹 𝑡 is
measured in grams and 𝑡 is measured in days. Find the average rate of change of 𝐹 𝑡 over the interval 0
𝑡 90. Indicate units of measure.

32.
 y



x
        


A continuous function 𝑓 is shown above and defined on the closed interval 5 𝑥 4. For how many values
of 𝑏, 5 𝑏 4, is the average rate of change of 𝑓 on the interval 𝑏, 1 equal to 0? Give a reason for your
answer.