Answer:
-600
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate of change of a function f(x) in a certain interval [tex](x_1,x_2)[/tex] is the ratio between the change of the function and the change in the value of x:
[tex]r=\frac{f(x_2)-f(x_1)}{x_2-x_1}[/tex]
The rate of change of a function tells how much the value of the function is changing per change in unit of x: therefore, for a linear function it corresponds to the slope of the line.
In this problem, the function f(x) is equal to the value of the business machine in dollars, while the variable x represents the number of years.
Here we are told that the machine was purchased for
[tex]q=\$4500[/tex]
while its value decreases by $600 each year, so
[tex]m=-600\$[/tex]
This means that the linear function that represents the value of the machine after x years is:
[tex]y=4500-600x[/tex]
Therefore, the rate of change of the function is -600.
