Answer
-1
Work Step by Step
$f(x)=x^3-3x^2-x$
Determine the average rate of change from $x_1=-1$ to $x_2=2$:
$\dfrac{f(x_2)-f(x_1)}{x_2-x_1}=\dfrac{f(2)-f(-1)}{2-(-1)}$
$=\dfrac{[2^3-3(2^2)-2]-[(-1)^3-3(-1)^2-(-1)]}{3}$
$=\dfrac{-6-(-3)}{3}$
$=-1$
The average rate of change is -1.
