Finding average acceleration from data points of a velocity time graph?

1. Nov 1, 2007

TexasCow

Well I posted this in the calculus section but think it would be answered easier here since it's mild calculus if any.

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
I'm studying for a Calculus test and I am having trouble on a problem. And who better to ask than the members of physicsforums!?

Basically, we are studying average acceleration, velocity, secant and tangent lines. We are given the graph of a function, and its corresponding data points.

"Find the average acceleration of the car, in f/s, over the interval 0<t<50.(The inequality signs are acutally "less than or equal to", but I don't know how to input such characters.)

I'm aware that the derivative of a velocity time graph is its acceleration/time graph. So I assume that the slope of the line is the acceleration. Unfortunately, we are not permitted to fit a best line, or derive an equation. Is there another way of doing this? Thanks for any help.

2. Nov 1, 2007

Chi Meson

The average acceleration is simply the net change in velocity over the corresponding change in time. You just need to coordinates of the two data points at 0 and 50 s.

This is the easy one.

3. Nov 1, 2007

TexasCow

Wow, I just realized. I feel so dumb! Thanks a bunch.