Average and Instantaneous Rates

Lecture Notes

Abdul Rauf Nizami

March 2020
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Average Rate of Change. The average rate of change of y = f (x) with respect
to x over the interval [x0 , x1 ] is defined as
y1 − y0
rave = (1)
x1 − x0
where y0 and y1 are obtained by putting x0 and x1 in the given function.
That is, y0 = f (x0 ) and y1 = f (x1 ).

Geometrically, average rate of change is the slope of the secant line passing
through the points P (x0 , y0 ) and Q(x1 , y1 ).
y

Q(x1,y1)
Secant Line

P(x0,y0)

Remark 1. If the function is given in terms of f , we shall use the formula

given in (2):
f (x1 ) − f (x0 )
rave = (2)
x1 − x0
Example 1. Find the average rate of change of y = x2 + 1 over the interval
[3, 5], and interpret it.
Solution.
Step 1. (Average Rate)
Here [x0 , x1 ] = [3, 5]. That is, x0 = 3 and x1 = 5. Now put values of x0 and
x1 in y = x2 + 1 to get y0 and y1 :
y0 = (x0 )2 + 1 = (3)2 + 1 = 10
y1 = (x1 )2 + 1 = (5)2 + 1 = 26
Now
y1 − y0 26 − 10 16
rave = = = =8
x1 − x0 5−3 2

Step 2. (Interpretation) This means y increases averagely 8 units per one unit
increase in x over the interval [3, 5]. 

————————-Solution Ends——————————–
 Average and Instantaneous Rates 3

Example 2. Find the average rate of change of y = −x3 + 2 over the interval
[−2, 1], and interpret it.
Solution.
Step 1. (Average Rate)
Here [x0 , x1 ] = [−2, 1]. That is, x0 = −2 and x1 = 1. Now put values of x0
and x1 in y = −x3 + 2 to get y0 and y1 :
y0 = −(x0 )3 + 2 = −(−2)3 + 2 = 10
y1 = −(x1 )3 + 2 = −(1)3 + 2 = 1
Now
y1 − y0 1 − 10 −9
rave = = = = −3
x1 − x0 1 − (−2) 3

Step 2. (Interpretation) Here y decreases averagely 3 units per one unit in-
crease in x over the interval [−2, 1]. 

————————-Solution Ends——————————–

Example 3. Find the average rate of change of f (x) = 3 − 2x2 over the
interval [−3, 1], and interpret it.
Solution.
Step 1. (Average Rate)
Here [x0 , x1 ] = [−3, 1]. That is, x0 = −3 and x1 = 1. Now put values of x0
and x1 in f (x) = 3 − 2x2 to get f (x0 ) and f (x1 ):
f (x0 ) = 3 − 2(x0 )2 = 3 − 2(−3)2 = 3 − 2(9) = 3 − 18 = −15
f (x1 ) = 3 − 2(x1 )2 = 3 − 2(1)2 = 3 − 2(1) = 1
Now
f (x1 ) − f (x0 ) 1 − (−15) 16
rave = = = = 4.
x1 − x0 1 − (−3) 4

Step 2. (Interpretation) This means y increases averagely 4 units per one unit
increase in x over the interval [−3, 1]. 

————————-Solution Ends——————————–

Instantaneous Rate of Change. The instantaneous rate of change of y = f (x)

with respect to x at x0 is defined as
f (x0 + h) − f (x0 )
rinst = lim .
h→0 h
Geometrically, instantaneous rate of change is the slope of the tangent line
at the point P (x0 , f (x0 )).
4 Average and Instantaneous Rates

y tangent line

P(x0,f(x0)) y=f(x)

0 x0
x

Example 4. Find the instantaneous rate of change of f (x) = x2 + 1 with

respect to x at the point x = −4, and interpret it.
Solution.
Step 1. (Instantaneous Rate) First of all we put the given point x0 = −4 in
the function f (x) = x2 + 1 to get f (x0 ) and f (x0 + h):
f (x0 ) = (x0 )2 + 1 = (−4)2 + 1 = 16 + 1 = 17
f (x0 + h) = (x0 + h)2 + 1 = (−4 + h)2 + 1 = h2 − 16h + 17
Now
f (x0 + h) − f (x0 )
rinst = lim
h→0 h
(h2 − 8h + 17) − (17)
= lim
h→0 h
h(h − 8)
= lim
h→0 h
= lim h − 8
h→0
= −8
Step 2. (Interpretation) Thus, y decreases instantaneously 8 units per one
unit increase in x at x = −4. 

————————-Solution Ends——————————–
1
Example 5. Find the instantaneous rate of change of y = x2 with respect to
x at the point x = −2, and interpret it.
Solution.
Step 1. (Instantaneous Rate) First of all we put the given point x0 = −2 in
the function f (x) = x12 to get f (x0 ) and f (x0 + h):
1 1 1
f (x0 ) = = =
(x0 )2 (−2)2 4
1 1 1
f (x0 + h) = 2
= 2
=
(x0 + h) (−2 + h) 4 − 4h + h2
 Average and Instantaneous Rates 5

Now
f (x0 + h) − f (x0 )
rinst = lim
h→0 h
1h i
= lim f (x0 + h) − f (x0 )
h→0 h
1h 1 1i
= lim 2
−
h→0 h 4 − 4h + h 4
1 h 4 − (4 − 4h + h2 ) i
= lim
h→0 h 4(4 − 4h + h2 )
1 4 − 4 + 4h − h2 i
h
= lim
h→0 h 4(4 − 4h + h2 )

1h 4h − h2 i
= lim
h→0 h 4(4 − 4h + h2 )

1 h h(4 − h) i
= lim
h→0 h 4(4 − 4h + h2 )
h 4−h i
= lim
h→0 4(4 − 4h + h2 )
4−0
=
4(4 − 4(0) + (0)2 )
4 1
= =
16 4

Step 2. (Interpretation) Thus, y increases instantaneously 1 unit per four unit

increase in x at x = −2.
Equivalently, y increases instantaneously 0.25 units per 1 unit increase in x
at x = −2. 

————————-Solution Ends——————————–
Practice Problems
1. Find the average rate of change of y = −3x2 + 2 with respect to x over
the interval [1, 5] and interpret it.
√
2. Find the average rate of change of y = x with respect to x over the
interval [1, 4] and interpret the result.

3. Find the instantaneous rate of change of y = −3x2 + 2 with respect to

x at the point x = 3 and interpret it.

4. Find the instantaneous rate of change of y = ex with respect to x at

the point x = 2 and interpret it.

1
5. Find the instantaneous rate of change of y = x2 with respect to x at
the point x = −2 and interpret it.
6 Average and Instantaneous Rates

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(I shall welcome your suggestions to improve these notes.)