The table below represents the atmospheric temperature at a location as a function of the altitude:

Altitude
(in thousand feet)
x
15
20
25
30

Temperature
(in °C)
f (x)

4
−6
−16
−26

The average rate of change of the function between x = 15 to x = 25 is ___degrees Celsius per thousand feet and represents the rate of change of temperature per thousand feet.

Answer: The average rate of change of the function between x = 15 to x = 25 is -2 degrees Celsius per thousand feet and represents the rate of change of temperature per thousand feet.

Step-by-step explanation:

The average rate of change of a function y=f(x) from [tex]x_1\ to\ x_2[/tex]is given by :-

[tex]k=\frac{f(x_2)-f(x_1)}{x_2-x_1}=\frac{-6-4}{20-15}[/tex]

Now, by the given table the average rate of change of the function between x = 15 to x = 25 will be :_

[tex]k=\frac{-16-4}{25-15}=\frac{-20}{10}=-2[/tex]

Hence, the average rate of change of the function between x = 15 to x = 25 is -2 degrees Celsius per thousand feet and represents the rate of change of temperature per thousand feet.