University Calculus: Early Transcendentals (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321999584
ISBN 13: 978-0-32199-958-0

Chapter 4 - Section 4.2 - The Mean Value Theorem - Exercises - Page 224: 55

Answer

See proof below.

Work Step by Step

Let $s(t)$ be the function of the distance covered by time t, (s is in miles, t in hours.) and let us assume that the function $s$ is continuous and differentiable over $[0,2].$ The function of speed is the derivative of s. Speed = $s'(t)$ We are given: $\left\{\begin{array}{l} s(0)=0\\ s(2)=D \end{array}\right., $ where D represents total distance. By the Mean Value Theorem, there exists a moment in time $t_{0}\in(0,2)$ where $s'(t_{0})=\displaystyle \frac{s(2)-s(0)}{2-0}=\frac{D}{2}$ miles per hour The expression $\displaystyle \frac{s(2)-s(0)}{2-0}=\frac{D}{2}$ is the average speed of the trip (total distance) / (total time). Thus, the car will have had the average speed at a certain moment $t_{0}\in(0,2)$.
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