Unit 1: Rates of Change Assessment of Learning

1. Determine the average rate of change of y in the function y = 2x3 + 7x2 + 2x − 3

Solution:
Interval [3,5] means values of x from 3 to 5.

When x = 3
y = 2x3 + 7x2 + 2x − 3
y = 2(3)3 + 7(3)2 + 2(3) − 3
y = 2(27) + 7(9) + 6 − 3
y = 54 + 63 + 3
y = 120
Point (3, 120)

When x = 5
y = 2x3 + 7x2 + 2x − 3
y = 2(5)3 + 7(5)2 + 2(5) − 3
y = 2(125) + 7(25) + 10 − 3
y = 250 + 175 + 7
y = 432

Point (5, 432)

y 2 −y 1
Average rate of change = m= x2 −x1
432−120 312
m= 5−3 = 2 = 156

The average rate of change of y in the function y = 2x3 + 7x2 + 2x − 3 over the interval
[3, 5] is 156.
2. Given the function f (x) = 2x2 + 3x + 1,

a. Find the instantaneous rate of change when x = 1.

Solution:

x f (x) = 2x2 + 3x + 1 (x, y)

1 f (x) = 2(1)2 + 3(1) + 1 = 2 + 3 + 1 = 6 (1, 6)

1.1 f (x) = 2(1.1)2 + 3(1.1) + 1 = 6.72 (1.1, 6.72)

1.01 f (x) = 2(1.01)2 + 3(1.01) + 1 = 6.0702 (1.01, 6.0702)

1.001 f (x) = 2(1.001)2 + 3(1.001) + 1 = 6.007002 (1.001,6.007002)

Average rate of change table:

(x 1 , y 1 ) (x2 , y 2 ) Average rate of change

6.72−6 0.72
(1, 6) (1.1, 6.72) m= 1.1−1
= 0.1
= 7.2

6.0702−6 0.0702
(1, 6) (1.01, 6.0702) m= 1.01−1
= 0.01
= 7.02

6.007002−6 0.007002
(1, 6) (1.001,6.007002) m= 1.001−1
= 0.001
= 7.002

The instantaneous rate of change when x = 1 is approximately 7.

Solution:
Using First Principles

f (x+h)−f (x)
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
f (1+h)−f (1)
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
2 2
[2(1+h) +3(1+h)+1]−[2(1) +3(1)+1]
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
2
[2(1+2h+h )+3+3h+1]−6
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
2+4h+2h2 +3+3h+1−6
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
7h +2h2
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
f ′(x) = lim (7 + 2h)
h→0
f ′(x) = 7

The value of the derivative when x = 1 is 7.

c.What did you notice?

Answer: I noticed that the instantaneous rate of change when x = 1 and the
derivative when x = 1 is the same, 7.

3. Explain the difference between a secant line and a tangent line. How do they
relate to the rate of change of a function? Include a sketch of each type of line in
your solution.

Answer:
A secant line is a straight line that intersects the curve at two points while a tangent
line is a straight line that touches the curve at one point.
The secant line of a curve is used to find the average rate of change of a function by
finding the slope of the two points of the line that intersects the curve.
The tangent line of a curve is used to find the instantaneous rate of change of a
function.
4. The path of a baseball relative to the ground can be modelled by the function
d(t) =− t2 + 8t + 1 , where d(t) represents the height of the ball in metres, and t
represents time in seconds.

a. Find the average rate of change of the ball between 1 and 3 seconds.

Solution:
Values of t to be 1 and 3.

When t = 1
d(t) =− t2 + 8t + 1
d(1) =− (1)2 + 8(1) + 1
d(1) =− 1 + 8 + 1
d(1) = 8
Point (1,8)

When t = 3
d(t) =− t2 + 8t + 1
d(3) =− (3)2 + 8(3) + 1
d(3) =− 9 + 24 + 1
d(3) = 16
Point (3,16)

y 2 −y 1
Average rate of change = m= x2 −x1
16−8 8
= 3−1 = 2 =4

The average rate of change of the ball between 1 and 3 seconds is 4m/s.

b. Using the secant method, find the instantaneous rate of change at 2 seconds.

Solution:

x d(t) =− t2 + 8t + 1 (x, y )

2 d(2) =− (2)2 + 8(2) + 1 = 13 (2, 13)

2.1 d(2.1) =− (2.1)2 + 8(2.1) + 1 = 13.39 (2.1, 13.39)

2.01 d(2.01) =− (2.01)2 + 8(2.01) + 1 = 13.0399 (2.01, 13.0399)

2.001 d(2.1) =− (2.001)2 + 8(2.001) + 1 = 13.003999 (2.001, 13.003999)

(x 1 , y 1 ) (x2 , y 2 ) Average rate of change

13.39−13 0.39
(2, 13) (2.1, 13.39) m= 2.1−2
= 0.1
= 3.9

13.0399−13 0.39
(2, 13) (2.01, 13.0399) m= 2.01−2
= 0.01
= 3.99

13.003999−13 0.0039
(2, 13) (2.001, 13.003999) m= 2.001−2
= 0.001
= 3.999

The instantaneous rate of change of the ball at 2 seconds is approximately 4m/s.

5. a. Evaluate lim(3x3 + 7x − 16 )
x→2
Solution: Using substitution
lim(3x3 + 7x − 16) = 3(2)3 + 7(2) − 16 = 24 + 14 − 16 = 22
x→2
lim(3x3 + 7x − 16) = 22
x→2

b. What is the meaning of this value?

Answer:
The limit as x approaches 2 of (3x3 + 7x − 16) is 22.

6. Evaluate the following limits.

2
a. lim xx−4
−16
x→4

Solution:
Using factoring method
= lim (x−4)(x+4)
2 −16
lim xx−4 x−4
x→4 x→4
2 −16
lim xx−4 = lim(x + 4)
x→4 x→4
Substitute for x
lim 4 + 4 = 8 Make sure you are dropping the limit
x→4
2 notation when you sub in the number
lim xx−4
−16
=8 for the variable.
x→4
 8x3 −5x2 +17
b. lim 2
x→∞ 6x3+2x −4x
Solution:
Using divide everything method
Divide all terms by x3
8x3 −5x2 +17
lim 3 2
x→∞ 6x +2x −4x
8x3 5x2 17
− 3+ 3
x3
= lim x x
6x3 2x2 4x
x→∞ + 3− 3
x3 x x
8− 5x + 173
= lim 2 4
x
6+ x − 2
x→∞ x
Substitute for x = ∞
8− ∞5 + 17
= 6+ 2 − ∞4
∞ ∞

= 6+0−0 = 68 = 34
8−0+0
3
−5x2 +17
lim 8x
6x 3 +2x
4
2 −4x = 3
x→∞

√49+h−7
c​. lim h
h→0
Using rationalizing method.
Multiply numerator and denominator by conjugate, (√49 + h + 7) .

√49+h−7
= lim h
h→0
(√49+h−7)(√49+h+7)
= lim h(√49+h+7)
h→0
(49+h)−7√49+h+7√49+h−49
= lim h(√49+h+7)
h→0
h
= lim h(√49+h +7)
h→0
1
= lim √49+h +7
h→0
Substitute for h = 0
1 1 1
= √49+0 = 7+7 = 14
+7
√49+h−7 1
lim h = 14
h→0
 y 3 −8
d. lim 2y 2 −7y+12
y→2
Using substitution method.

y 3 −8 23 −8 8−8 0
lim 2 = 2 = 8−14+12 = 6 =0
y→2 2y −7y+12 2(2) −7(2)+12
y 3 −8
lim 2y 2 −7y+12
=0
y→2

4
2+h −2
e. lim h
h→0
Simplify

4
2+h −2
lim h
h→0
−2
= lim 2+h
h→0
Substitute for h = 0
−2 −2
= 2+0
= 2
=− 1
4
2+h −2
lim h =− 1
h→0
7. Find the slope of the tangent line at point (-2,2) on the curve f (x) = 2x2 + 3x .

Solution:
Find slope using First Principles.
f (a+h)−f (a)
m = lim h
h→0
f (−2+h)−f (−2)
m= lim h
h→0
[2(−2+h)2 +3(−2+h)]−[2(−2)2 +3(−2)]
m= lim h
h→0
2
[2(4−4h+h )+(−6+3h)]−2
m= lim h
h→0
2
m= lim 8−8h+2hh−6+3h−2
h→0
2
m= lim −5h+2h
h
h→0
m = lim(− 5 + 2h)
h→0
m =− 5
The slope of the tangent line at point (-2,2) on the curve f (x) = 2x2 + 3x is -5.

8. Find the derivative of the function f (x) = x2 − 10x + 3 using First Principles.

Solution:
Using First Principles
f (x+h)−f (x)
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
[(x+h)2 −10(x+h)+3]−(x2 −10x+3)
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
[(x2 +2xh+h2 )−10x−10h+3−x2 +10x−3)
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
x2 +2xh+h2 −10x−10h+3−x2 +10x−3
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
2xh−10h+h2
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
f ′(x) = lim(2x − 10 + h)
h→0
f ′(x) = lim 2x − 10
h→0
The derivative of the function f (x) = x2 − 10x + 3, using First Principles is 2x − 10.
9. Find the equation of the tangent line at point (2,2) on the curve f (x) = x2 − 7x + 12.

Solution:
Find slope using First Principles.
f (a+h)−f (a)
m = lim h
h→0
f (2+h)−f (2)
m= lim h
h→0
[(2+h)2 −7(2+h)+12]−(22 −7(2)+12)
m = lim h
h→0
4+4h+h2 −14−7h+12−2
m = lim h
h→0
h2 −3h
m = lim h
h→0
m = lim(h − 3)
h→0
m =− 3

Using the equation of a line.

The equation of the tangent line at point (2,2) on the curve f (x) = x2 − 7x + 12 is
y =− 3x + 8.
10. At what point on the parabola y = 3x2 + 2x is the tangent line parallel to the line
y = 10x − 2 ?

Solution:
Find derivative of y = 3x2 + 2x using First Principles.
f (x+h)−f (x)
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
[3(x+h)2 +2(x+h)]−(3x2 +2x)
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
2
[3(x +2xh+h )+2x+2h]−3x2 −2x
2
f ′(x) = lim h
h→0
2 2 2 −2x
f ′(x) = lim 3x +6xh+3h +2x+2h−3x
h
h→0
2 2 2
f ′(x) = lim 3x +6xh+3h +2x+2h−3x
h
−2x
h→0
f ′(x) = lim( 6xh+2h
h )
h→0
f ′(x) = 6x + 2

y = 10x − 2 m = 10

Any line parallel to y = 10x − 2 will have the slope 10.

f ′(x) = m = 6x + 2

6x + 2 = 10
6x = 10 − 2
x = 86 = 43
4
x= 3
or x = 1.33
4
Substitute x = 3
into y = 3x2 + 2x
y = 3( 43 )2 + 2( 43 )
y = 3( 16
9
)+ 8
3
y = 16
3
+ 83
y = 24
3 =8
y=8

At the point (1.33, 8) on the curve y = 3x2 + 2x , the tangent line is parallel to the line
y = 10x − 2.