Answer:
slope = - [tex]\frac{14}{3}[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
the slope of the secant line in the closed interval [a, b ] is
slope = [tex]\frac{f(b)-f(a)}{b-a}[/tex]
here [a, b ] = [1, 4 ]
f(b) = f(4) = - [tex]2^{4}[/tex] + 5 = - 16 + 5 = - 11
f(a) = f(1) = - [tex]2^{1}[/tex] + 5 = - 2 + 5 = 3
slope = [tex]\frac{-11-3}{4-1}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{-14}{3}[/tex] = - [tex]\frac{14}{3}[/tex]