Lesson 3: Rates of Change in Linear & Quadratic Functions

In the previous lesson, you looked at rates of change from multiple representations, including graphs,
equations, tables, and verbal descriptions. In this lesson, we want to consider rates of change in linear
and quadratic functions.

The Average Rate of Change and the Secant Line

A secant line is a line joining two points on a function. Finding the slope of the secant line
through two points 𝑃𝑃 𝑎𝑎, 𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑄𝑄 𝑏𝑏, 𝑓𝑓 𝑏𝑏 will give you the average rate of change over
the interval [𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏]. You have known how to do this since your first algebra class, we just have
VOCABULARY

new notation.

Average Rate of Change of f on [a, b]

∆𝑦𝑦 𝑓𝑓 𝑏𝑏 − 𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎 ∆𝑦𝑦
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = = 𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 =
∆𝑥𝑥 𝑏𝑏 − 𝑎𝑎
∆𝑥𝑥

EX #1: Consider the graph at right. It passes through the points

(0, −3) and 4, 3 .
3
A. Explain how you know its equation is 𝑦𝑦 = 2 𝑥𝑥 − 3.

B. What do you notice about the average rate of change for a

linear function?

C. How is the average rate of change related to the equation itself?

D. Use the grid at right to sketch a graph of the function that

represents the average rates of change of the linear function.
[Hint: consider your answer to part B].

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EX #2: Given the quadratic function 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 6𝑥𝑥 + 5, (graph at right).
A. Use the table of values to find the average rates of change on
consecutive equal-length intervals of x-values. Record your
results in the table.

𝒙𝒙 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
𝒚𝒚 5 0 −3 −4 −3 0 5

Interval [0, 1] [1, 2] [2, 3] [3, 4] [4, 5] [5, 6]

Average Rate
of Change

B. Using the results from the table of average rates of change above, do you notice a pattern
in these rates of change? What can you say about the rate of change at 𝑥𝑥 = 3 ? Explain.

Three Essential Facts

1. Over any length input-value interval, the average rate of change for a linear function is
__________________________________.
2. Given consecutive equal-length input-value intervals, the average rate of change of a quadratic
function can be given by a ______________________________ function.
3. The average rate of change over the closed interval [𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏] is the slope of the ____________________ line.

Average Rate of Change and Concavity

EX #3: In a quadratic function, we can determine the curvature or concavity of the graph by
considering the average rate of change over equal-length x-intervals. Sketch secant lines on
the graphs shown below:

Concave Up Concave Down

Slope is increasing Slope is decreasing

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2020Jean
JeanAdams
Adams FlamingoMath.com
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 Graphing the Average Rate of Change of a Quadratic Function

EX #4: Using the function from EX #2, let’s consider what the graph of the average rate of change for
this quadratic function would look like.

A. The parabola is concave up because the average rate of change on the equal-length intervals
is _________________________. By a factor of __________. Let’s call this the “slope” of a new function.

B. We also observed that the quadratic function changes from decreasing to increasing at the
vertex, where 𝑥𝑥 = ____________, so the rate is ___________________________ here. We say the slope is
____________________. You can use the ordered pair as (x-value, rate of change) for a point on the
graph.
C. Using your results from parts A and B, write an equation
for a linear equation to represent the average rate of change
of the quadratic function. Graph the equation in the grid
provided.

EX #5: Let’s generalize the procedure for finding the average rate of
change (velocity) to any function over any interval.
A. Let 𝐹𝐹 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 2, find average rate of change from
𝑡𝑡 = 2 to 𝑡𝑡 = 4.

B. Let 𝐹𝐹 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 2, find average rate of change from

𝑡𝑡 = 2 to 𝑡𝑡 = 2 + ℎ.

C. Write a general formula for the average rate of change (difference quotient) for any two points
𝑎𝑎, 𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑎𝑎 + ℎ, 𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎 + ℎ .

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2020Jean
JeanAdams
Adams FlamingoMath.com
Flamingo Math.com
 In general terms, we can say that a function increases over an open interval of its domain if its graph
rises from left to right on the interval. Likewise, a function decreases over an open interval of its
domain if its graph falls from left to right on the interval. Finally, a function is constant over an
open interval of its domain if its graph is horizontal on the interval.
It is important to note that the intervals refer to the x-values where the y-values either increase,
decrease, or remain constant.

Definition of Increase, Decrease and Constant

Suppose that a function 𝑓𝑓 is defined over an open interval, 𝐼𝐼 and 𝑥𝑥1 and 𝑥𝑥2 are in 𝐼𝐼.
KEY CONCEPT

 f is increasing on interval 𝐼𝐼 if, for any two points in the interval, a positive change in
𝑥𝑥 results in a positive change in 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥). 𝑥𝑥1 < 𝑥𝑥2 , 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥1 < 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥2 .
 f is decreasing on an interval 𝐼𝐼 if, for any two points in the interval, a positive change in
𝑥𝑥 results in a negative change in 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥). 𝑥𝑥1 < 𝑥𝑥2 , 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥1 > 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥2 .
 f is constant on an interval 𝐼𝐼 if, for any two points in the interval, a positive change in
𝑥𝑥 results in a zero change in 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥). For every 𝑥𝑥1 and 𝑥𝑥2 , 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥1 = 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥2 .

We read a graph in mathematics from left to right,

the same way we read a book.

EX #6: Consider the function 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓𝑓 𝑥𝑥 shown at right,

trace each interval where the function behavior is

A. Increasing, using a GREEN pencil

Identify the interval(s) ___________________________________

B. Decreasing, using a RED pencil

Identify the interval(s) ___________________________________

C. Constant, using a YELLOW pencil

Identify the interval(s) ___________________________________

D. State the Domain of the function ______________________________

E. State the Range of the function ________________________________

F. What thoughts do you have about the intervals stated above? Did you use brackets
(closed/included points) or parentheses (open/non-included points)? Why or why not?

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2020Jean
JeanAdams
Adams FlamingoMath.com
Flamingo Math.com
 Finding the Equation of a Secant Line

EX #7: Given 𝑔𝑔 𝑥𝑥 = −𝑥𝑥 2 + 4𝑥𝑥 + 1, shown at right

A. Find the average rate of change of 𝑔𝑔 from −1 to 3.

B. Find an equation of the secant line containing the points

−1, 𝑔𝑔 −1 and 3, 𝑔𝑔 3 .

C. Sketch the secant line on the graph at right.

EX #8: The average rate of change of ℎ(𝑥𝑥) over the interval from 0 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 4 is 18. Find the missing
value in the table.

𝒙𝒙 0 1 2 3 4

𝒉𝒉(𝒙𝒙) 2 6 18 34 ?

EX #9: Suppose the demand for a product can be expressed as 𝑝𝑝 𝑥𝑥 = 0.2𝑥𝑥 2 + 1.15𝑥𝑥 + 5.4 where
x is given in units of a thousand.
A. Find the average rate of change of demand when the number of items demanded increases
from 2 thousand to 4 thousand.

B. Find the average rate of change of demand when the number of items demanded increases
from 1 thousand to 5 thousand.

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2020Jean
JeanAdams
Adams FlamingoMath.com
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EX #10: The graph below gives Nikola Technology’s revenue 𝐴𝐴 𝑝𝑝 , for Bluetooth headphones. The
x-axis represents the price of the headphones. Label the x-axis “price, in dollars.” Label the
y-axis “revenue, in millions of dollars.” Label the function 𝑦𝑦 = 𝐴𝐴 𝑝𝑝 .

A. At what price(s) will the tech company

make no money on the headphones?
Explain why.

B. Two employees are discussing the best

selling price for the headphones. One
thinks $45 per set is best and the other
believes they should sell for more than
$50. Use the graph to analyze this
discussion. Is either employee on the
right path?

C. The company goal is to have maximum revenue. What would be the best price for each set of
headphones? Explain how you know.

D. Between 𝑝𝑝 = 0 and 𝑝𝑝 = 55, how much does revenue change, on average, when the price of the
headphones increases by $1? Explain.

E. Could there be any factor(s) when the company might alter or adjust the price of the
headphone set?

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2020Jean
JeanAdams
Adams FlamingoMath.com
Flamingo Math.com