Answer
$\dfrac{7}{4}$
Work Step by Step
Average rate of change is: $ \dfrac{f(x_2)-f(x_1)}{x_2-x_1}$
So, $ \dfrac{f(x_2)-f(x_1)}{x_2-x_1}= \dfrac{[-(1.25)^2+(4)(1.25)-3]-[-(1)^2+(4)(1)-3]}{1.25-1}$
or, $=\dfrac{\dfrac{7}{16}-0}{0.25}$
or, $=\dfrac{7}{4}$
