www.whyslopes.com   << Français :  20 pages >>    
Appetizers and Lessons for Mathematics and Reason
  online logic chapters  - the best starting point for further site exploration.  Bon Appetite.

G. Rolle's Theorem etc
Back ] Section Entrance ] Next ]
Section Entrance ]

the Real Analysis appendices of

Why Slopes
and
More Math

Volume 3

Printed in Canada
ISBN 0-9697564-3-7

These  Real Analysis appendices continue the decimal viewpoint of limits, continuity and convergence in chapter 14. and this further lesson

A. What's Next
B. Pigeon Hole Principle
B. Bolzano-Weierstrass
C1. Triangle Inequality
C2. Triangle Inequality
C. More T.Inequality
D. Sets & Sequences
D. Monotone Sequences
E. Limits,  Properties
E Limits & Error Control
F. Continuous Functions
F. Closed Range Thm
F. Intermediate Val. Thm
F. Compactness Thm
F. Equicontinuity Thm
F Extreme Value Thm
G. Rolle's Theorem etc
G. Mean Val. Thm.
G. Constant Difference Thm
G. Lipschitz Continuity I
PS: One Sided Range Theorems
G. Velocity Revisited
G. Sufficient Conditions
H. Riemann Sums Conv
H. Lipschitz Continuity II

Proofs of  one-sided theorems could be of interest in the study of 2D topology.


Appendix G

Differentiable Functions

Rolle's Theorem

A real-valued function f(x) is said to be differentiable at a point x = a if and only if
f¢(x) =
lim
Dx->  0 
f(x+Dx)-f(x)
D
exists, that is, the chord slope [(f(x+Dx)-f(x))/(D)] approaches a finite limit as Dx->  0. As noted in the earlier discussion of the linear approximation y = f(x1)+f¢(x1)(x-x1) » f(x), if a function is differentiable at a point x1 then it continuous at x1, meaning limx->  x1 f(x) exists and equals the real number f(x1).

Theorem G.1 [Rolle's Theorem] Suppose f(x) is continuous on an interval [a,b] and differentiable when a < x < b. Further suppose f(a) = f(b). Then there exists a point c interior to the interval [a,b] with f¢(c) = 0. Note: saying the point c interior to the interval [a,b] means a < c < b.

Proof of Rolle's Theorem.

In general, the extreme value theorem for continuous functions implies there exist at least two points xmin and xmax in the interval [a,b] with the property that f(xmin) £ f(x) £ f(xmax) for every x in the interval [a,b]. In particular, this property implies at the end points that f(xmin) £ f(a) = f(b) £ f(xmax).

If f(xmin) < f(a) = f(b) then a < xmin < b since xmin in [a,b] cannot be an end-point. But then f¢(xmin) = 0 since otherwise, an interior minimum would not occur at xmin. (See the earlier discussion of linear approximation.) Thus the conclusion holds with c = xmin.

Now if f(xmin) = f(a) = f(b) then either f(xmax) > f(a) = f(b) or f(xmax) = f(a) = f(b). In the first case f(xmax) > f(a) implies a < xmax < b and hence f¢(xmax) = 0, else xmax would not yield an interior maximum of f(x). In this first case, the conclusion holds with c = xmin.

Now in the remaining second case f(xmax) = f(b) = f(xmin). In this case, the function f(x) is constant on the interval [a,b]. Thus f¢(c) = 0 for every point c in the interval. The conclusion is obvious.

Note that the function f(x) in the above discussion could have several minima and maxima interior to the interval. At these points the slope or derivative f¢(c) = 0.

 

www.whyslopes.com

site search

Parents: Help your Child/Teen Learn covers  Speaking Skills, Reading & Writing Preparing for Science Having Patience, etc

Math How-TOs
1. Arithmetic   2. Algebra   3.  More Algebra  4.  Geometry 5 More Geometry 6.  Calculus
>> densely written 
>> use as skill checklists

Online Volumes (orders)
1,  Elements of Reason. 1996
1A. Pattern Based Reason  1995
1B. Math Curriculum Notes 1996
2. Three Skills for Algebra  1995
3 .Why.Slopes.&
.More.Math.1995

Skill & Concept 
Review or  Development 

 1. Decimal Arith - Video Based ]
2   Fractions  
3.  Fractions  with Units  
3. Solving Linear Equations  - 
making alg easier
4. Formulas forwards & Backwards - unifying theme for Algebra
5.  Proportionality, Back- & For-wards - theme at work.
6.  Logic - Math Free, good for precision in  work & studies 
7. Euclidean-Geometry  (leanly)
8. Slopes and Lines 
9. Why Study Slopes - a context 
10.  Quadratics
11  Polynomials
12  Factored Polys - a context
13 Functions - For-& Back -wards
14  Number Theory, Richly
15. Exponents, Radicals & logs.  
16   Calculus - Examples & Advice 
17.   Real  Analysis 
18  Electric Circuits Etc (So So)
19 Maps, Similarity & Trig, (alt view)
20 Complex numbers  

21 Logic with Symbols+truth tables

22  Consistent Story Telling
23. Even More Logic

 Back ] Up ] Next ] [Top of this Page]  
  www.whyslopes.com?

Road Safety Message  Do not walk on a road with your back to the traffic - rule of thumb
Please report by
email,  errors in mathematics or grammar or terminology to site author
If a mathematics topic you need is not covered in site pages,  report that as well. Topics in most demand
will be covered first in site growth.  

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners.
Copyright to comments & contributions are owned by the Poster. 
The Rest © 1995 onward by site author,   Alan Selby
,  All Rights Reserved.