Question

A painting company uses four different types of rectangular plastic sheets called tarps to protect floors and furniture when painting. The thickness of each tarp is measured in mils and
1
mil is equal to
0.001
of an inch. At the end of a job, tarps A, B, and C are folded in half over and over again to make them smaller and easier to transport.

The function
a
(
x
)
=
3
(
2
)
x
represents the thickness, in mils, of tarp A after being folded in half
x
times.

The functions
b
(
x
)
and
c
(
x
)
represent the thickness, in mils, of tarps B and C respectively after being folded in half
x
times and are represented by the graphs shown.

image


Tarp D is not folded in half and instead is folded using repeated folds from one side. The function
d
(
x
)
=
8
(
x
+
1
)
describes the thickness of tarp D, in mils, after
x
folds are made.

What is the average rate of change of
b
(
x
)
from
x
=
1
to
x
=
3
?

A.
10
3

B.
40
3

C.
15

D.
30

Answer 1

I can't see the graph you mention. To find the average rate of change of b(x) from x = 1 to x = 3 you need the two function values b(1) and b(3) from the graph, then compute

average rate = (b(3) − b(1)) / (3 − 1) = (b(3) − b(1)) / 2.

Please either upload the graph or tell me the values b(1) and b(3) as read from the graph and I will compute the average rate and pick the matching answer choice.