Notes Key Topic 1.2 Rates of Change 2024
Notes Key Topic 1.2 Rates of Change 2024
In Topic 1.1, we learned that the phrase “rate of change” is synonymous with the word “slope”. So, a positive rate of
change indicates that a function has a positive slope (the function is increasing). And a negative rate of change indicates
that a function has a negative slope (the function is decreasing).
Rate of Change at a Point
In AP Precalculus, we will define the rate of change of a function at a point as the rate at which
the output values would change if the input values were to change at that point.
Later, in (AP) Calculus, you will call this the “instantaneous rate of change”. The concept of a
function changing instantaneously is called a derivative and is quite challenging to understand
without first learning the foundational ideas found in AP Precalculus.
In AP Precalculus, we are unable to find the rate of change of a function at a given point (this will require calculus). But,
we need to determine if the rate of change at a given point is positive, negative, or zero. We will also need to be able to
compare the rates of change at two distinct points.
When considering rates of change at a given point, it may be helpful to think about the graph as a roller
coaster. If the car you are riding is “going up”, then the function has a positive rate of change at that point.
If you are “going down”, the function has a negative rate of change at that point.
At the instant (point) when you are at the top of a peak or at the bottom of a valley, you are not moving up or down. At
the single instant (point), you are changing between going up and going down. At these points, the rate of change is
neither positive nor negative; the rate of change is zero!
The fastest roller coaster in the world is the Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). Build
in 2010, the coaster reaches a maximum speed of 149.1 miles per hour! For comparison, the average
speed for the 2008 Indy 500 was only 143.6 miles per hour!
Notes: Topic 1.2 Rates of Change Solutions by Ted Gott [email protected] Created by Bryan Passwater
Graph of f
Example 1: The figure shows the graph of a function f in the xy -plane with three labeled points. Order the rates of
change of f at the three labeled points from least to greatest.
rate of change at A is positive, rate of change at B is negative and rate of change at C is zero.
𝐵!"#$ < 𝐶!"#$ < 𝐴!"#$
Graph of g
Example 2: The figure shows the graph of a function g in the xy -plane with four labeled points. Of the following
points, at which is the rate of change of g the least?
(A) A
(B) B
(C) C
(D) D The rate of change at C and D are negative and graph is steeper at D, so the rate of change at D is less (more
negative) than the rate of change at C.
Notes: Topic 1.2 Rates of Change Solutions by Ted Gott [email protected] Created by Bryan Passwater
Another important concept that we will use throughout AP Precalculus (and AP Calculus) is the average rate of change of
a function over an interval.
Graph of h
Example 3: The figure shows the graph of the function y = h ( x ) . Of the following, on which interval is the average rate
of change of h greatest?
Notes: Topic 1.2 Rates of Change Solutions by Ted Gott [email protected] Created by Bryan Passwater
Example 4: The graph of the function y = f ( x ) in the xy -plane always has a negative rate of change. Which of the
following definitions for the variables x and y would best model the function f ?
(A) x = the age, in years, of a young child; y = the height, in inches, of the young child
(B) x = the total number of points scored in a basketball game; y = the time remaining, in seconds, in the game.
(C) x = the time, in seconds, since a ball was thrown straight up in the air; y = the height, in feet, of the ball
(D) x = the radius, in meters, of a circle; y = the area, in square inches, of the circle
If points are being scored then the time must be running and that means the seconds remaining in the game must
be decreasing, or the rate of change is negative.
Example 5: The function k is defined by k ( x ) = 3.16 + 4.2 x - 0.85x 2 for -10 £ x £ 10. Which of the following
statements about k is correct?
(A) k has a positive rate of change over the interval -10 £ x £ 8.348.
(B) k has a positive rate of change over the interval -0.663 £ x £ 5.605.
(C) k has a negative rate of change over the interval -10 £ x £ 2.470.
(D) k has a negative rate of change over the interval 2.470 £ x £ 10.
Example 6: The table gives the life expectancy of US females born in a given year over successive 50-year intervals.
Over which of the following intervals is the average rate of change in life expectancy the greatest?
46.10 − 41.24
(A) from 1800 to 1850 average rate of change = 0.0972
50
53.63 − 46.10
(B) from 1850 to 1900 average rate of change = 0.1506
50
70.65 − 53.63
(C) from 1900 to 1950 average rate of change = 0.3404
50
81.83 − 70.65
(D) from 1950 to 2000 average rate of change = 0.2236
50
Notes: Topic 1.2 Rates of Change Solutions by Ted Gott [email protected] Created by Bryan Passwater