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Darboux's Theorem (analysis)




Darboux's theorem is a of an Interval is also an interval.

Note that when ''f'' is Continuously differentiable (''f'' in ''C''1( {Link without Title} )), this is trivially true by the Intermediate Value Theorem . But even when f' is ''not'' continuous, Darboux's theorem places a severe restriction on what it can be.


DARBOUX'S THEOREM


Let ''f'' : R be a real-valued Continuous Function on [''a'',''b'' , which is Differentiable on (''a'',''b''), differentiable from the right at ''a'', and differentiable from the left at ''b''. Then f' satisfies the intermediate value property: for every ''t'' between f'_{+}(a) and f'_{-}(b), there is some ''x'' in [''a'',''b''] such that f'(x) = t.


PROOF


Without loss of generality we migth and shall assume f'_{+}(a) > t > f'_{-}(b). Let ''g''(''x'') := ''f''(''x'') - ''tx''. Then g'(x) = f'(x) - t, g'_{+}(a) > 0 > g'_{-}(b), and we wish to find a zero of g'.

Since ''g'' is a continuous function on by the Extreme Value Theorem it attains a Maximum on [''a'',''b'' . This maximum cannot be at ''a'', since g'_{+}(a) > 0 so ''g'' is locally increasing at ''a''. Similarly, g'_{-}(b) < 0, so ''g'' is locally decreasing at ''b'' and cannot have a maximum at ''b''. So the maximum is attained at some ''c'' in (''a'',''b''). But then g'(c) = 0 by Fermat's Theorem (stationary Points) .


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