Question 7.T.9: Let f : [a, b] → R be a continuous function which is differe...

Let f : [a, b] → \mathbb{R} be a continuous function which is differentiable on (a, b).

(i) If f^{′}(x) ≥ 0 for all x ∈ (a, b), f is increasing on [a, b].

(ii) If f^{′}(x) ≤ 0 for all x ∈ (a, b), f is decreasing on [a, b].

(iii) If f^{′}(x) > 0 for all x ∈ (a, b), f is strictly increasing on [a, b].

(iv) If f^{′}(x) < 0 for all x ∈ (a, b), f is strictly decreasing on [a, b].

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Suppose x_{1}, x_{2} ∈ [a, b] and x_{1} < x_{2}. From the mean value Theorem, applied to the interval [x_{1}, x_{2}], there is a c ∈ (x_{1}, x_{2}) ⊆ (a, b) such that

f(x_{2}) − f(x_{1}) = (x_{2} − x_{1})f^{′}(c).

This implies that f(x_{2}) − f(x_{1}) and f^{′}(c) have the same sign, and that f(x_{1}) = f(x_{2}) if and only if f^{′}(c) = 0.

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