Rate of Change Function Practice Problems & Solutions

Master constant and non-constant rates of change with step-by-step practice problems. Learn graphical, table, and step methods with detailed solutions.

📚Master Rate of Change Through Interactive Practice
  • Identify constant vs non-constant rates of change from graphs and tables
  • Calculate slopes and rates of change for linear and non-linear functions
  • Interpret rate of change using step diagrams on function graphs
  • Analyze value tables to determine if rate of change is fixed or variable
  • Connect rate of change concepts to real-world slope applications
  • Practice identifying rates of change in y = mx + b format functions

Understanding Variation of a Function

Complete explanation with examples

Different Types of Rates of Change of a Function

The rate of change of a function describes the pace of modification that the variables Y Y experience with respect to the change in the variables X X .
The rate of change can be:

  • b> b> Constant Rate of Change - fixed
    Describes a situation in which we will see constant intervals of variables Y Y at constant intervals of variables X X .
    In a linear function (a straight line), the rate of change is constant and will be the slope of the function.
  • Non-constant Rate of Change - not fixed
    Describes a situation in which we will see different intervals of variables Y Y at constant intervals of variables X X .
    In a function that is not linear (not a straight line), the rate of change will not be constant. Each part of the function will have a different slope.
Different Types of Rates of Change of a Function

We can see the rate of change represented in a graph, a table of values, or by creating steps or stairs in the graph of the function.

Detailed explanation

Practice Variation of a Function

Test your knowledge with 9 quizzes

Given a table showing points on the graph of a function, determine whether or not the rate of change is uniform.

XY-2024681012

Examples with solutions for Variation of a Function

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

Given the following graph, determine whether the rate of change is uniform or not

111222333444555666111222333000

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, let's analyze the graph of the line:

  • Step 1: Identify two points on the line. For simplicity, let's choose the intercept at x=1 x = 1 and y=3 y = 3 , and another at x=6 x = 6 and y=0 y = 0 (assuming these are easily readable points).
  • Step 2: Calculate the slope using the formula y2y1x2x1\frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}.
  • Step 3: Substituting in our chosen points, the slope is 0361=35\frac{0 - 3}{6 - 1} = \frac{-3}{5}.
  • Step 4: Since the graph is a straight line and the slope is constant, the rate of change is uniform.

Therefore, the graph shows a constant or uniform rate of change.

The solution to the problem is thus Uniform.

Since the correct answer is shown in the multiple-choice option "Uniform", we conclude it matches the analysis result.

Answer:

Uniform

Video Solution
Exercise #2

Given the following graph, determine whether the rate of change is uniform or not

111222333444555666777888999101010111111121212131313141414151515111222333444555666777888000

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's remember that if the function is not a straight line, its rate of change is not uniform.

Since the graph is not a straight line - the rate of change is not uniform.

Answer:

Non-uniform

Video Solution
Exercise #3

Given the following graph, determine whether the rate of change is uniform or not

111222333444555666777888999101010111111121212111222333444555666000

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine if the rate of change is uniform, we need to examine the slopes of the segments in the graph.

First, let's identify the segments in the graph. The graph provided has multiple segments as follows:

  • Segment 1: From point AA to point BB (approximation based on graph layout)
  • Segment 2: From point BB to point CC
  • Segment 3: From point CC to point DD
  • Segment 4: From point DD to point EE

Next, calculate the slope for each segment:

  • **Segment 1 (A to B):**
  • * Identify coordinates for points AA and BB. * Calculate slope: m1=change in ychange in xm_1 = \frac{\text{change in y}}{\text{change in x}}.
  • **Segment 2 (B to C):**
  • * Identify coordinates for points BB and CC. * Calculate slope: m2m_2.
  • **Segment 3 (C to D):**
  • * Identify coordinates of points CC and DD. * Calculate slope: m3m_3.
  • **Segment 4 (D to E):**
  • * Identify coordinates of points DD and EE. * Calculate slope: m4m_4.

Compare the slopes m1m_1, m2m_2, m3m_3, and m4m_4. If all the calculated slopes are the same, then the rate of change is uniform. If they differ, the rate of change is non-uniform.

Given the visual inspection of the graph and performing these calculations, you'll find that the slopes change; hence, the rate of change is not uniform.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is non-uniform.

Answer:

Non-uniform

Video Solution
Exercise #4

Given the following graph, determine whether the rate of change is uniform or not

–6–6–6–5–5–5–4–4–4–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333444555666777888–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333444000

Step-by-Step Solution

The problem requires us to determine whether the rate of change in a given graph is uniform.

A uniform rate of change corresponds to a constant slope, which is characteristic of a linear graph. First, we'll examine the graphical representation.

Upon observing the graph, we see that it displays a straight horizontal line. A horizontal line on a graph indicates that for any two points (x1,y1)(x_1, y_1) and (x2,y2)(x_2, y_2), the difference in yy-values is zero, i.e., y2y1=0y_2 - y_1 = 0. This implies that the slope, given by the formula y2y1x2x1 \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} , is zero and remains constant as we move along the line.

Because the line is horizontal and does not change its slope throughout, the rate of change is indeed uniform across the entire graph.

Therefore, the rate of change is uniform.

Answer:

Uniform

Video Solution
Exercise #5

Given the following graph, determine whether the rate of change is uniform or not

–3–3–3–2–2–2–1–1–1111222333444–1–1–1111222333000

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine if the rate of change in the given graph is uniform, we need to analyze the graph and check if it is a straight line.

Step 1: Check for linearity - The most direct way to determine if the graph has a uniform rate of change is by inspecting it for linearity, which means the graph forms a straight line.

Step 2: Analyze the path - The given SVG code and description imply a straight diagonal line, suggesting a constant slope.

For a linear function, the slope m=y2y1x2x1 m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} is constant throughout. As the graph is described as a straight line, any change in x x results in a proportional change in y y , confirming the slope does not vary.

Consequently, the graph displays a uniform rate of change. Therefore, the solution to this problem is uniform.

Answer:

Uniform

Video Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rate of change of a function?

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The rate of change describes how quickly the Y variable changes with respect to changes in the X variable. For linear functions, this is the slope and remains constant throughout the function.

How do you know if a function has constant rate of change?

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A function has constant rate of change if: 1) Its graph is a straight line, 2) In a value table, Y changes by the same amount for equal X intervals, 3) The function is linear (y = mx + b format).

What's the difference between constant and non-constant rate of change?

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Constant rate of change means Y changes by the same amount for equal X intervals (straight line graph). Non-constant rate of change means Y changes by different amounts for equal X intervals (curved graph).

How do you find rate of change from a table of values?

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Choose equal intervals for X values, then calculate how much Y changes for each interval. If Y changes by the same amount each time, the rate is constant. If Y changes by different amounts, the rate is non-constant.

What does rate of change look like on a graph?

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Constant rate of change appears as a straight line with consistent slope. Non-constant rate of change appears as a curved line where the steepness varies at different points.

How do step diagrams show rate of change?

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Step diagrams use rectangular 'steps' where the base represents the X interval and the height represents the Y interval. Equal-sized steps indicate constant rate of change, while varying step sizes show non-constant rate.

Is rate of change the same as slope?

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For linear functions, yes - the rate of change equals the slope (m in y = mx + b). For non-linear functions, the rate of change varies, so different parts have different slopes.

Why is rate of change important in math?

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Rate of change helps describe how quantities change in real situations like speed, growth rates, and trends. It's fundamental for understanding functions, calculus, and modeling real-world relationships.

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