average rate of change from f(a) to f(b) = slope between the points (a, f(a)) and (b, f(b))
average rate of change from f(a) to f(b) = \(\frac{f(b)-f(a)}{b-a}\)
Let's find a using the information that f(a) = 16
\(f(a)\,=\,\sqrt{5a+7}\\~\\ 16=\sqrt{5a+7}\\~\\ 16^2\,=\,5a+7\\~\\ 256\,=\,5a+7\\~\\ 249\,=\,5a\\~\\ 49.8\,=\,a\)
Let's find b using the information that f(b) = 25
\(f(b)\,=\,\sqrt{5b+7}\\~\\ 25=\sqrt{5b+7}\\~\\ 625\,=\,5b+7\\~\\ 618\,=\,5b\\~\\ 123.6\,=\,b\)
average rate of change from f(a) to f(b) = \(\frac{f(b)-f(a)}{b-a}\)
average rate of change from f(a) to f(b) = \(\frac{25-16}{123.6-49.8}\)
average rate of change from f(a) to f(b) = \(\frac{9}{73.8}\)
average rate of change from f(a) to f(b) = \(\frac{5}{41}\)
Check: https://www.desmos.com/calculator/vyowjsxmkp