mean-value theorem

mean-value theorem

      theorem in mathematical analysis dealing with a type of average useful for approximations and for establishing other theorems, such as the fundamental theorem of calculus (analysis).

 The theorem states that the slope of a line connecting any two points on a “smooth” curve is the same as the slope of some line tangent to the curve at a point between the two points. In other words, at some point the slope of the curve must equal its average slope (see figure—>). In symbols, if the function f(x) represents the curve, a and b the two endpoints, and c the point between, then [f(b) − f(a)]/(b − a) = f′(c), in which f′(c) represents the slope of the tangent line at c, as given by the derivative.

      Although the mean-value theorem seemed obvious geometrically, proving the result without appeal to diagrams involved a deep examination of the properties of real numbers (real number) and continuous functions (continuity). Other mean-value theorems can be obtained from this basic one by letting f(x) be some special function.

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Universalium. 2010.

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