Mean Value Theorem

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Definition of the Mean Value Theorem

The following diagram shows the Mean Value Theorem. Scroll down the page for more examples and solutions on how to use the Mean Value Theorem.

What is the Mean Value Theorem?

Let f be a function that satisfies the following hypotheses:

1. f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b]
2. f is differentiable on the open interval (a, b)

Then there is a number c in (a, b) such that

How to use the Mean Value Theorem?

Example:

Given f(x) = x³ – x, a = 0 and b = 2. Use the Mean Value Theorem to find c.

Solution:

Since f is a polynomial, it is continuous and differentiable for all x, so it is certainly continuous on [0, 2] and differentiable on (0, 2).

By the Mean Value Theorem, there is a number c in (0, 2) such that

f(2) – f(0) = f ’(c) (2 – 0)

We work out that f(2) = 6, f(0) = 0 and f ‘(x) = 3x² – 1

We get the equation

But c must lie in (0, 2) so

Mean Value Theorem
Introduction into the mean value theorem.
Examples and practice problems that show you how to find the value of c in the closed interval [a,b] that satisfies the mean value theorem. For the mean value theorem to be applied to a function, you need to make sure the function is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval (a, b). The Mean Value Theorem

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Intuition behind the Mean Value Theorem

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