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Theorem (Mean Value Theorem For Integrals) : Proof

The Mean Value Theorem for Integrals states that if f is continuous on the closed interval [a,b], then there exists at least one number c in the open interval (a,b) such that the integral of f from a to b equals f(c) multiplied by b-a. The proof uses the definition of the function F(x) as the integral of f from a to x, and applies the Mean Value Theorem for Derivatives to F on [a,b], showing there is a c where the derivative of F is equal to the average value of f. The average value of a function f over an interval [a,b] is defined as the integral of f

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45 views3 pages

Theorem (Mean Value Theorem For Integrals) : Proof

The Mean Value Theorem for Integrals states that if f is continuous on the closed interval [a,b], then there exists at least one number c in the open interval (a,b) such that the integral of f from a to b equals f(c) multiplied by b-a. The proof uses the definition of the function F(x) as the integral of f from a to x, and applies the Mean Value Theorem for Derivatives to F on [a,b], showing there is a c where the derivative of F is equal to the average value of f. The average value of a function f over an interval [a,b] is defined as the integral of f

Uploaded by

Manoj Rungta
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Theorem (Mean Value Theorem for Integrals)

If f is a continuous function on the closed, bounded interval [ , ], then there is at least one
number  in ( ,  ) for which

      . 

>

Proof:

The proof of the MVT for Integrals is an application of the MVT for Integrals with an
appropriate choice of the function.  Define the function F so that

     for every value of  in [ ,  ].  

The First Fundamental Theorem of Calculus tells us that F is continuous on [ ,  ], is


differentiable on ( ,  ), and .  These are exactly the conditions needed to
apply the Mean Value Theorem for Derivatives to F on [ ,  ].  That is, there is at least one
point  in ( ,  ) for which

   . 

Now, from the definition of F,

    =   

and
   . 

Thus,

    =  =   . 

>

Example 1: Average Value of a Function

Let f be a function defined on the interval [ ,  ].  Consider a regular partition of [ ,  


] into  subintervals with endpoints

    =  <  < .. <  <  = , 

that is, for each , 1, .., ,  define  and   

The average of  function values, , , ..., , is

     

                           

                  

     . 
Observe that in the final two steps, the definition of  has been used to write  and

the constant  has been factored out of the sum.

The sum in this last expression is a Riemann sum.  If the number of data points is allowed to
increase without bound a definite integral can be identified:

    = . 

This is the motivation for the definition of the average value of a function:

Definition (Average Value of a Function)

Let f be a continuous function on a closed, bounded interval [ ,  ].  The average value of  f
on  [ ,  ] is

    =   . 

>
>

The FunctionAverage command in Maple's Student[Calculus1] package

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