Answer: About -5 new production per year.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given : In 1980, there were 67 new productions on Broadway.
In 1987, there were 31 new productions on Broadway.
Now, the average rate of change in the number of new productions is given by :-
[tex]\text{Average rate of change}=\dfrac{\text{Production in 1987-Production in 1980}}{1978-1980}[/tex]
i.e.
[tex]\text{Average rate of change}=\dfrac{31-67}{7}\\\\=\dfrac{-36}{7}=-5.142857142\approx-5[/tex]
Hence, the average rate of change in the number of new productions is about -5 new production per year.
