Average Value of a Function

Compute or estimate the average value of a function over an interval using the formula (1/(b−a))∫ₐᵇ f(x)dx, possibly from a graph, table, or explicit formula.

ap-calculus-ab None Q9 View
The function $f$ is continuous for $- 4 \leq x \leq 4$. The graph of $f$ shown above consists of five line segments. What is the average value of $f$ on the interval $- 4 \leq x \leq 4$ ?
(A) $\frac { 1 } { 8 }$
(B) $\frac { 3 } { 16 }$
(C) $\frac { 15 } { 16 }$
(D) $\frac { 3 } { 2 }$
ap-calculus-ab 1998 Q5 View
The temperature outside a house during a 24-hour period is given by $$F(t) = 80 - 10\cos\left(\frac{\pi t}{12}\right), \quad 0 \leq t \leq 24,$$ where $F(t)$ is measured in degrees Fahrenheit and $t$ is measured in hours.
(a) Sketch the graph of $F$ on the grid provided.
(b) Find the average temperature, to the nearest degree Fahrenheit, between $t = 6$ and $t = 14$.
(c) An air conditioner cooled the house whenever the outside temperature was at or above 78 degrees Fahrenheit. For what values of $t$ was the air conditioner cooling the house?
(d) The cost of cooling the house accumulates at the rate of $\$0.05$ per hour for each degree the outside temperature exceeds 78 degrees Fahrenheit. What was the total cost, to the nearest cent, to cool the house for this 24-hour period?
ap-calculus-ab 2003 Q6 View
Let $f$ be the function defined by $$f(x) = \begin{cases} \sqrt{x+1} & \text{for } 0 \leq x \leq 3 \\ 5 - x & \text{for } 3 < x \leq 5. \end{cases}$$ (a) Is $f$ continuous at $x = 3$? Explain why or why not.
(b) Find the average value of $f(x)$ on the closed interval $0 \leq x \leq 5$.
(c) Suppose the function $g$ is defined by $$g(x) = \begin{cases} k\sqrt{x+1} & \text{for } 0 \leq x \leq 3 \\ mx + 2 & \text{for } 3 < x \leq 5, \end{cases}$$ where $k$ and $m$ are constants. If $g$ is differentiable at $x = 3$, what are the values of $k$ and $m$?
ap-calculus-ab 2025 Q1 View
An invasive species of plant appears in a fruit grove at time $t = 0$ and begins to spread. The function $C$ defined by $C ( t ) = 7.6 \arctan ( 0.2 t )$ models the number of acres in the fruit grove affected by the species $t$ weeks after the species appears. It can be shown that $C ^ { \prime } ( t ) = \frac { 38 } { 25 + t ^ { 2 } }$.
(Note: Your calculator should be in radian mode.)
A. Find the average number of acres affected by the invasive species from time $t = 0$ to time $t = 4$ weeks. Show the setup for your calculations.
B. Find the time $t$ when the instantaneous rate of change of $C$ equals the average rate of change of $C$ over the time interval $0 \leq t \leq 4$. Show the setup for your calculations.
C. Assume that the invasive species continues to spread according to the given model for all times $t > 0$. Write a limit expression that describes the end behavior of the rate of change in the number of acres affected by the species. Evaluate this limit expression.
D. At time $t = 4$ weeks after the invasive species appears in the fruit grove, measures are taken to counter the spread of the species. The function $A$, defined by $A ( t ) = C ( t ) - \int _ { 4 } ^ { t } 0.1 \cdot \ln ( x ) d x$, models the number of acres affected by the species over the time interval $4 \leq t \leq 36$. At what time $t$, for $4 \leq t \leq 36$, does $A$ attain its maximum value? Justify your answer.
ap-calculus-bc 1998 Q5 View
The temperature outside a house during a 24-hour period is given by $$F(t) = 80 - 10\cos\left(\frac{\pi t}{12}\right), \quad 0 \leq t \leq 24,$$ where $F(t)$ is measured in degrees Fahrenheit and $t$ is measured in hours.
(a) Sketch the graph of $F$ on the grid provided.
(b) Find the average temperature, to the nearest degree Fahrenheit, between $t = 6$ and $t = 14$.
(c) An air conditioner cooled the house whenever the outside temperature was at or above 78 degrees Fahrenheit. For what values of $t$ was the air conditioner cooling the house?
(d) The cost of cooling the house accumulates at the rate of $\$0.05$ per hour for each degree the outside temperature exceeds 78 degrees Fahrenheit. What was the total cost, to the nearest cent, to cool the house for this 24-hour period?
ap-calculus-bc 2012 Q82 View
What is the average value of $y = \sqrt { \cos x }$ on the interval $0 \leq x \leq \frac { \pi } { 2 }$ ?
(A) - 0.637
(B) 0.500
(C) 0.763
(D) 1.198
(E) 1.882
isi-entrance 2017 Q20 View
Let $f : [0,2] \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be a continuous function such that $$\frac{1}{2}\int_0^2 f(x)\,dx < f(2)$$ Then which of the following statements must be true?
(A) $f$ must be strictly increasing.
(B) $f$ must attain a maximum value at $x = 2$.
(C) $f$ cannot have a minimum at $x = 2$.
(D) None of the above.