Answer:
The average rate of change is m = 3.4 models of paper shredders per year
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate of change m of a function is:
[tex]m = \frac{f(x_2)-f(x_1)}{x_2-x_1}[/tex]
In this problem the function receives a variable x = year and returns a variable f(x) = models of paper shredders
We know that for [tex]x = 1998[/tex], [tex]f(x) = 2[/tex]
We also know that for [tex]x = 2008[/tex], [tex]f(x) = 36[/tex].
Then we can calculate the average rate of change using these values.
[tex]m = \frac{f(2008)-f(1998)}{2008-1998}[/tex]
[tex]m = \frac{36-2}{2008-1998}[/tex]
[tex]m = 3.4[/tex]