L2 – 1.
6 Instantaneous Rates of Change
MHF4U
Jensen
Part 1: Review of Average Rates of Change
An average rate of change corresponds to the slope of a
________________
secant between two points on a curve.
An instantaneous rate of change corresponds to the slope of a
________________
tangent a one specific point on a curve.
Example 1: The height, ℎ, in meters, after 𝑡 seconds is modelled by the equation ℎ(𝑡) = −4.9𝑡 ! + 14𝑡 + 1.
Determine the average rate of change of the height of the ball for each time interval.
a) [0,0.5]
b) [1,2.5]
Part 2: Find Instantaneous Rate of Change from a Graph or Table
Instantaneous Rate of Change: The exact rate of change of a function at one specific value of the independent
variable. Can be estimated using average rates of change for small intervals of the independent variable.
Note: the best estimate for the instantaneous rate of change occurs when the interval used to calculate the
average rate of change is made as small as possible.
Example 2: Find the instantaneous rate of change of the height of the ball at 2 seconds. The equation for the
height of the ball is ℎ(𝑡) = −4.9𝑡 ! + 14𝑡 + 1.
Method 1: Draw Tangent Line
The slope of a tangent at a point on a graph is equivalent
to the instantaneous rate of change of a function at this
point.
(3; 4)
(3.5; 1)
Method 2: Choose a Surrounding Interval
Choose an interval that has the instantaneous rate of (1.5; 11)
change location as its midpoint if possible.
For this example, choose the interval _____________.
[1.5; 2.5]
Use the equation of the function to determine the
corresponding 𝑦 values. (2,5 ; 5,375)
Method 3: Averaging a Preceding and Following Interval
Calculate the average rate of change on either side of 𝑡 = 2 and then average them.
For this example, find the average rate of change for the intervals [1.5, 2] and [2, 2.5] and then average them.
Average Rate for interval [1.5, 2]
Average Rate for interval [2, 2.5]
Example 3: Consider the data from the Bank of Canada for the beginning of November in 2007. Estimate the
instantaneous rate of change of the value of the Canadian Dollar on November 7th.
Day 1 2 5 7 8 13 14
Value of Canadian $
94.99 93.59 93.39 91.70 93.06 96.43 96.07
in US Cents
Method 1: Choose a Surrounding Interval
Use the interval ________
Method 2: Averaging a Preceding and Following Interval (more accurate)
Average Rate for interval _____ Average Rate for interval ______
Part 3: Find Instantaneous Rate of Change from an Equation
Squeezing a preceding or following interval is a technique for estimating instantaneous rates of change. By
finding average rates of change that get progressively smaller, you can make more accurate estimates at to
what the rate of change is ____________________
approaching at an exact point.
Example 4: Use the chart below to estimate the slope of the tangent to the curve 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 " − 𝑥 at 𝑥 = 2.
∆𝒚
Interval ∆𝒚 ∆𝒙 Slope of secant = ∆𝒙
= 𝑓(3) − 𝑓(2)
37
= [2(3)! − 3] − [2(2)! − 2] =3−2 =
2≤𝑥≤3 1
= 51 − 14 =1
= 37
= 37
= 𝑓(2.5) − 𝑓(2) 14.75
= f(2.5)- f(2) = 28.75 - 14
2.5 - =2 2.5 −2
= 0.5 14.75 =
/ 0.5
2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2.5 = 14.75 = 28.75 − 14 0.5= 29.5
= 0.5
= 14.75 = 29.5
= 𝑓(2.1) − 𝑓(2) 2.422
f(2.1)-f(2) = 16.422 - 14 2.1 - 2= =2.10.1
−2 2.422 =
/ 0.1
0.1= 24.22
2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2.1 =2.422 = 16.422 − 14
= 0.1
= 2.422 = 24.22
= 𝑓(2. .01) − 𝑓(2) 0.231202
f(2.01) - f(2) = 2 x 2.01 - 2.01 2.01 =
- 22.01 −2
= 0.01 =
0.231202 / 0.01
0.01
2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2.01 - (2 x 8= -14.231202
2) = 16.422
− 14- 14 = 23.1202
= 0.231202 = 0.01
= 0.231202 = 23.1202
f(2.001) - f(2) − 𝑓(2)
= 𝑓(2.001)
= 2.001 − 2 =
0.023012
0.023012 / 0.001
2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2.001 = 14.023012-14
= 14.023012 − 14 2.001 - 2 = 0.001 0.001
= 23.012
= 0.023012 = 0.001
= 0.023012 = 23.012
limit
By looking at the ________ approach
of the secant slopes as we ________________ 𝑥 = 2, we can estimate the slope of
the tangent to be:
