Given f of x is equal to 17 minus x squared , what is the average rate of change in f of x over the interval left bracket 1 comma 5 right bracket ?

The average rate of change on [1, 5] is (f(5) − f(1)) ÷ (5 − 1). Since f(5) = 17 − 25 = −8 and f(1) = 17 − 1 = 16, the rate is (−8 − 16) ÷ 4 = −6. The correct choice is negative 6.

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