Chapter 3: Problem 15
A function is given. Determine the average rate of change of the function between the given values of the variable. $$ f(x)=3 x^{2} ; \quad x=2, x=2+h $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The average rate of change is \( 12 + 3h \).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the function
The function provided is \( f(x) = 3x^2 \). This is a quadratic function.
02
Understand the formula for average rate of change
The average rate of change of a function \( f(x) \) over an interval \([x_1, x_2]\) is given by the formula \( \frac{f(x_2) - f(x_1)}{x_2 - x_1} \).
03
Substitute given points into the formula
We want to find the average rate of change between \( x = 2 \) and \( x = 2 + h \). So \( x_1 = 2 \) and \( x_2 = 2 + h \).
04
Calculate \( f(x_1) \)
Substitute \( x_1 = 2 \) into the function: \( f(2) = 3(2)^2 = 3 \times 4 = 12 \).
05
Calculate \( f(x_2) \)
Substitute \( x_2 = 2 + h \) into the function: \( f(2 + h) = 3(2 + h)^2 = 3(4 + 4h + h^2) = 12 + 12h + 3h^2 \).
06
Calculate the difference \( f(x_2) - f(x_1) \)
Calculate \( f(2 + h) - f(2) = (12 + 12h + 3h^2) - 12 = 12h + 3h^2 \).
07
Divide the difference by \( x_2 - x_1 \)
The difference in the x-values is \( (2 + h) - 2 = h \). Thus, the average rate of change is \( \frac{12h + 3h^2}{h} = 12 + 3h \), after cancelling \( h \) in the numerator and denominator.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Quadratic Function
A quadratic function is a type of function represented by the expression \( ax^2 + bx + c \). In this expression, the highest power of \( x \) is 2, which makes it a quadratic function.
Quadratic functions have a U-shaped graph known as a parabola. The standard form of a quadratic function helps to determine the direction of the parabola.
Quadratic functions have a U-shaped graph known as a parabola. The standard form of a quadratic function helps to determine the direction of the parabola.
- If \( a > 0 \), the parabola opens upwards.
- If \( a < 0 \), the parabola opens downwards.
Rate of Change Formula
The rate of change formula is crucial in understanding how functions behave between two points. The average rate of change of a function between two points \( x_1 \) and \( x_2 \) is calculated using the formula:\[\frac{f(x_2) - f(x_1)}{x_2 - x_1}\]This formula helps us measure how much the function's output, or \( y \)-value, changes per unit increase in the \( x \)-value.
This is particularly useful when dealing with non-linear functions such as quadratic functions, where the rate of change is not constant. By comparing outputs across two points, we can get a snapshot of how quickly the function is increasing or decreasing over that interval.
This is particularly useful when dealing with non-linear functions such as quadratic functions, where the rate of change is not constant. By comparing outputs across two points, we can get a snapshot of how quickly the function is increasing or decreasing over that interval.
Function Substitution
Function substitution involves finding the output of a function by replacing the input variable with specific values.
In our scenario, you substitute particular values of \( x \) into \( f(x) = 3x^2 \) to compute \( f(x) \) at those points.
Let's break it down:
In our scenario, you substitute particular values of \( x \) into \( f(x) = 3x^2 \) to compute \( f(x) \) at those points.
Let's break it down:
- For \( x_1 = 2 \), substitute into the function: \( f(2) = 3 \cdot (2)^2 = 12 \).
- For \( x_2 = 2 + h \), substitute: \( f(2 + h) = 3 \cdot (2 + h)^2 = 12 + 12h + 3h^2 \).
Difference Quotient
The difference quotient is a term that frequently comes up when calculating the average rate of change.
In our example, the difference quotient is formed by the expression \( \frac{f(x_2) - f(x_1)}{x_2 - x_1} \), which simplifies to \( \frac{12h + 3h^2}{h} \).
This expression shows the change in the function's output relative to the change in input, a fundamental idea in calculus.
In our example, the difference quotient is formed by the expression \( \frac{f(x_2) - f(x_1)}{x_2 - x_1} \), which simplifies to \( \frac{12h + 3h^2}{h} \).
This expression shows the change in the function's output relative to the change in input, a fundamental idea in calculus.
- First, find the difference \( f(x_2) - f(x_1) \), resulting in \( 12h + 3h^2 \).
- Then, divide this difference by \( x_2 - x_1 \), which is \( h \).
- Simplify the quotient to \( 12 + 3h \).