Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Position Function
The position function s(t) describes the location of an object at any given time t. In this case, s(t) = -16t^2 + 100t represents the vertical motion of an object under the influence of gravity, where the coefficients indicate the effects of gravitational acceleration and initial velocity.
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Secant Line
A secant line is a straight line that intersects a curve at two or more points. In this context, the secant line connects the points (0.5, s(0.5)) and (2, s(2)), providing a way to approximate the average rate of change of the position function over the interval from t = 0.5 to t = 2.
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Slope of the Secant Line
The slope of the secant line is calculated as the change in position divided by the change in time, represented mathematically as (s(2) - s(0.5)) / (2 - 0.5). This slope indicates the average velocity of the object over the specified time interval, reflecting how quickly the object's position changes as it moves.
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