The Mean Value Theorem (MVT) is a fundamental concept in calculus that relates the average rate of change of a function to its instantaneous rate of change. It states that if a function is continuous on the closed interval and differentiable on the open interval , then there exists at least one point in such that:
This equation means that at some point , the slope of the tangent line to the curve is equal to the slope of the secant line connecting the points and . The MVT has important implications in various fields such as physics and economics, as it can be used to show the existence of certain values and help analyze the behavior of functions. In essence, it provides a bridge between average rates and instantaneous rates, reinforcing the idea that smooth functions exhibit predictable behavior.
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