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Mean Value Theorem

The document discusses the mean value theorem and how it can be used to prove mathematical inequalities. It introduces the mean value theorem and its related inequalities that if the derivative of a function f(x) is positive on an interval, then f(x) is increasing on that interval. It then provides two examples using the mean value theorem to show that ex > 1 + x for x > 0 and ex > 1 + x + x2 for x > 0, by considering the derivatives of the functions f(x) = ex - (1 + x) and g(x) = ex - (1 + x + x2).

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Rakesh Jha
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51 views3 pages

Mean Value Theorem

The document discusses the mean value theorem and how it can be used to prove mathematical inequalities. It introduces the mean value theorem and its related inequalities that if the derivative of a function f(x) is positive on an interval, then f(x) is increasing on that interval. It then provides two examples using the mean value theorem to show that ex > 1 + x for x > 0 and ex > 1 + x + x2 for x > 0, by considering the derivatives of the functions f(x) = ex - (1 + x) and g(x) = ex - (1 + x + x2).

Uploaded by

Rakesh Jha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Mean Value Theorem and Inequalities

The mean value theorem tells us that if f and f are continuous on [a, b] then:
f (b) f (a)
= f (c)
ba
for some value c between a and b. Since f is continuous, f (c) must lie between
the minimum and maximum values of f (x) on [a, b]. In other words:
f (b) f (a)
= f (c) max f (x).
axb
ba

min f (x)

axb

This is the form that the mean value theorem takes when it is used in problem
solving (as opposed to mathematical proofs), and this is the form that you will
need to know for the test.
In practice, you may even forget the mean value theorem and remember only
these three inequalities:
If f (c) > 0 then f (b) > f (a).
If f (c) < 0 then f (b) < f (a).
If f (c) = 0 then f (b) = f (a).
These can be used to prove mathematical inequalities. The following exam
ples compare the function ex to its linear and quadratic approximations and are
the rst steps toward a deeper understanding of the function.
Example: Show that ex > 1 + x for x > 0.
To prove this, well instead show that f (x) = ex (1 + x) is always positive.
We know that f (0) = e0 (1 + 0) = 0 and f (x) = ex 1. When x is positive,
f (x) is positive because ex > 1.
We know that if f (x) > 0 on an interval then f (x) is increasing on that
interval, so we can conclude that f (x) > f (0) for x > 0. In other words,
ex (1 + x) > 0 ex > 1 + x.
2

Example: Show that ex > 1 + x + x2 for x > 0.


2
The value of 1 + x + x2 is slightly greater than that of 1 + x, but it turns
2
out that its still less than the value of ex . We let g(x) = ex (1 + x + x2 ) and
do the same thing we did before:
g(0)

g (x) =

1 (1) = 0
ex (1 + x)

We know g (x) > 0 because we proved f (x) > 0 in the above example. Since
g (x) is positive, g is increasing for x > 0, so g(x) > g(0) when x > 0, so
2
2
ex (1 + x + x2 ) > 0 and ex > (1 + x + x2 ).
1

x2
x3
We can keep on going: ex > 1 + x +
+
for x > 0. Eventually, it turns
2
3!
out that
x2
x3
ex = 1 + x +
+
+ (an innite sum)
2
3!
We will be discussing this when we get to Taylor series near the end of the
course.

MIT OpenCourseWare
http://ocw.mit.edu

18.01SC Single Variable Calculus


Fall 2010

For information about citing these materials or our Terms of Use, visit: http://ocw.mit.edu/terms.

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