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7-8.

For each function below, calculate the average value over the given interval and state the value of such that equals the average value.

  1. Read the Math Note about how to compute the Mean Value of , given .

    To find the the time the function is at its average value, let the average value and solve for .

  1. Average Value . Now find the time, , that its average value.

Average (Mean) Values

To calculate the mean (average) value of a finite set of items, add up the values of items and divide by the number of items.

Integrals help us add over a continuous interval. Therefore, for any continuous function :

mean value of over

First quadrant, bell curve labeled, f of x, left end point on the y axis, labeled, a, right end point labeled, b, dashed horizontal segment, about 1 fourth up from x axis to peak, labeled average, & shaded rectangle between, A & b, segment & x axis.

Since , we can also calculate the average value of any function using its antiderivative . Its average slope gives the average rate of change of , which is the same as the average value of

  mean rate of change of over 

First quadrant, 2 tick marks on x axis, first at the origin labeled, A, second almost to the right end, labeled b, Increasing curve labeled, capital F of x, starting at the origin, changing from concave up to concave down, in center of quadrant, ending at point corresponding to, b, almost at the top, with dashed segment labeled, m = average, from origin to end point of curve.

The Mean Value Theorem states that a differentiable function will reach its average (mean) value at least once on any closed interval.
Check your values of t in parts (a) and (b). Are they within the the given closed intervals?

The Mean Value Theorem

The Mean Value Theorem for Integrals

If is continuous on , then there exists at least one point in such that .

First quadrant, bell curve labeled, f of x, left end point on the y axis, labeled, a, right end point labeled, b, dashed horizontal segment, about 1 fourth up from x axis to peak, labeled average, & shaded rectangle between, A & b, segment & x axis, & circled points where the curve intersects the dashed segment, corresponding to tick marks on x axis, labeled, c subscript 1 & c subscript 2.

The Mean Value Theorem for Derivatives

If is continuous on and differentiable on , then there exists at least one point in such that .

Increasing curve labeled, capital F of x, starting at the origin, labeled a on the x axis, changing from concave up to concave down, in center of quadrant, ending at point corresponding to tick mark on x axis labeled, b, with dashed segment labeled, m = A R O C, from origin to end point, & 2 dashed parallel lines, one tangent before point of inflection, corresponding to tick mark on x axis labeled, c subscript 1, & one tangent after point of inflection, corresponding to tick mark on x axis labeled, c subscript 2.