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13.11 Rates of change

Worksheet
Rates of change
1

Consider the following graphs:

Graph A:

Graph C:

Graph B:

Graph D:

Which graph shows a relationship that is:

a

Increasing, at an increasing rate?

b

Decreasing, at a decreasing rate?

c

Decreasing, at an increasing rate?

d

Increasing, at a decreasing rate?

2

Consider the following graphs:

Graph 1:

Graph 2:

Which graph shows a relationship that is:

a

Decreasing, at a constant rate?

b

Increasing, at a constant rate?

3

Describe the rate of change for each of the following graphs:

a
b
c
d
4

Consider the function y = 2^{x}. Describe the rate of change of the function.

5

Consider the function y = \left(\dfrac{1}{3} \right)^{x}. Describe the rate of change of the function.

6

Consider the function y = \sqrt{x}. Describe the rate of change of the function.

7

Consider the function y = -\sqrt{x}. Describe the rate of change of the function.

8

Consider the function y = -5x + 22. Describe the function as increasing or decreasing and comment on its rate of change.

9

Consider the function y = 7x - 5. Describe the function as increasing or decreasing and comment on its rate of change.

Applications
10

Anna went for a run. She started by gradually increased her speed until she felt comfortable, then kept her speed constant for a little while. She then slowed down as she got tired towards the end of her run.

Which graph shows the total distance covered by Anna, plotted against time?

Graph A:

Graph C:

Graph B:

Graph D:

Graph E:

Graph F:

11

45 rabbits are released into the wild. In the absence of predators, the population P is expected to grow according to the function P = 36 x^{2} + 9 x + 45, where x is the number of years since release.

a

Find the expected rabbit population after the following number of years:

\text{Number of years, }x1510
\text{Population, }P
b

The given graph shows the population over the first 6 years. Describe the rate of change of the rabbit population.

1
2
3
4
5
6
x
225
450
675
900
1125
1350
P
12

Ned has two graphs. Each graph shows how the height of the water in a vase changes as a constant flow of water is poured in.

Vase A:

Vase B:

a

Which shape could have produced the graph for Vase A?

A
B
C
D
b

Which shape could have produced the graph for Vase B?

A
B
C
D
13

An initial chemical reaction results in a chain of chemical reactions that follow:

The total number of reactions after t seconds is given by the equation y = 3^{t}.

a

How many chemical reactions have occurred by the end of the 3rd second?

b

How many chemical reactions occur in the 4th second only?

c

How many chemical reactions occur in the 5th second only?

d

Describe the rate of increase of the number of reactions.

14

1 gram of sugar is poured into a cup of water and immediately begins to dissolve. Each second the amount of sugar remaining is \dfrac{1}{4} of the amount present in the previous second.

a

Complete the table:

\text{Seconds passed, }t123
\text{Undissolved sugar in grams, }y
b

Find the difference in undissolved sugar between the first and second seconds.

c

Find the difference in undissolved sugar between the second and third seconds.

d

Describe the change in the amount of undissolved sugar over time.

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