Answer:
- 7
Step-by-step explanation:
The average rate of change of f(x) in the closed interval [ a, b ] is
[tex]\frac{f(b)-f(a)}{b-a}[/tex]
Here [ a, b ] = [ - 5, - 2 ]
f(b) = f(- 2) = (- 2)² - 4 = 4 - 4 = 0
f(a) = f(- 5) = (- 5)² - 4 = 25 - 4 = 21, thus
average rate of change = [tex]\frac{0-21}{-2-(-5)}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{-21}{3}[/tex] = - 7
