Answer:
- 9
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate of change of f(x) in the closed interval [ a, b ] is
[tex]\frac{f(b)-f(a)}{b-a}[/tex]
Here [ a, b ] = [ - 3, 1 ], thus
f(b) = f(1) = 2(1)² - 5(1) + 1 = 2 - 5 + 1 = - 2
f(a) = f(- 3) = 2(- 3)² - 5(- 3) + 1 = 18 + 15 + 1 = 34
rate of change = [tex]\frac{-2-34}{1-(-3)}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{-36}{4}[/tex] = - 9
