Consider the cubic function d\left(x\right)=\sqrt[3]{2x-1} and the square root function g\left(x\right)=\sqrt{2x+1}. Select the interval where the square root function has the lower estimated average rate of change.

[2, 6]

[3, 7]

[1, 5]

[0, 4]

1 answer

To find the estimated average rate of change for each function on each interval, we need to find the slopes of their secant lines.

For the square root function g(x) = √(2x + 1):

To find the slope between two points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), the formula is:

slope = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1)

Let's consider the interval [2, 6]:

For x = 2, y = g(2) = √(2(2) + 1) = √(4 + 1) = √5
For x = 6, y = g(6) = √(2(6) + 1) = √(12 + 1) = √13

The slope between these two points is:

slope1 = (√13 - √5) / (6 - 2) = (√13 - √5) / 4

Now let's consider the interval [3, 7]:

For x = 3, y = g(3) = √(2(3) + 1) = √(6 + 1) = √7
For x = 7, y = g(7) = √(2(7) + 1) = √(14 + 1) = √15

The slope between these two points is:

slope2 = (√15 - √7) / (7 - 3) = (√15 - √7) / 4

Comparing slope1 and slope2, we see that (√13 - √5) / 4 > (√15 - √7) / 4.

Therefore, the square root function has the lower estimated average rate of change on the interval [2, 6].