If the appropriate conditions are satisfied, what does the Mean Value Theorem guarantee?
The Mean Value Theorem (MVT) is a fundamental theorem in calculus that guarantees the existence of a specific point in a function where the instantaneous rate of change (derivative) is equal to the average rate of change over a certain interval
The Mean Value Theorem (MVT) is a fundamental theorem in calculus that guarantees the existence of a specific point in a function where the instantaneous rate of change (derivative) is equal to the average rate of change over a certain interval. It states that if a function f(x) is continuous on a closed interval [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval (a, b), then there exists at least one point c in the interval (a, b) where the derivative of the function, denoted as f'(c), is equal to the average rate of change of the function over the interval [a, b].
Mathematically, the Mean Value Theorem can be expressed as:
f'(c) = (f(b) – f(a))/(b – a)
where c is the point in the interval (a, b) where the instantaneous rate of change is equal to the average rate of change.
In simpler terms, the Mean Value Theorem guarantees that for any function that satisfies its conditions, there exists at least one point in the interval where the slope of the tangent line (the derivative) is equal to the slope of the secant line (the average rate of change) connecting the endpoints. This theorem is useful for analyzing and understanding functions, as it provides a connection between the behavior of a function on an interval and the behavior of its derivative at a specific point within that interval.
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