Answer:
- 6
Step-by-step explanation:
The average 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 ] = [ - 7, - 1 ]
f(b) = f(- 1) = (- 1)² + 2(- 1) - 8 = 1 - 2 - 8 = - 9
f(a) = f(- 7) = (- 7)² + 2(- 7) - 8 = 49 - 14 - 8 = 27
Hence
average rate of change = [tex]\frac{-9-27}{-1-(-7)}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{-36}{6}[/tex] = - 6
