If f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b], then there exists a number c in the closed interval [a, b] such

that
b

f (x) dx = f (c)(b a).

a

Proof: Case 1: If f is constant on the interval [a, b], the theorem is clearly valid because c can be any point in [a, b]. Case 2: If f is not constant on [a, b], then by the Extreme Value Theorem, you can choose f (m) and f (M) to be the minimum and maximum values of f on [a, b]. Because f (m) f (x) f (M) for all x in [a, b], and by the Preservation of inequality,
b b

f (m) dx
a a b

f (x) dx f (M) dx f (x) dx f (M)(b a)

b

f (m)(b a) f (m)

1 ba

f (x) dx f (M)
a

From the third inequality, you can apply the Intermediate Value Theorem to conclude that there exists some c in [a, b] such that f (c) = 1 ba
b a b

f (x) dx or f (c)(b a) =

f (x) dx

Extreme Value Theorem If f is continuous on a closed interval [a, b], then f has both a minimum and a maximum on the interval.

Preservation of inequality 1. If f is intergrable and nonnegative on the closed interval [a, b], then
b

f (x) dx.

2. If f and g are intergrable on the closed interval [a, b] and f (x) g(x) for every x in [a, b], then
b a b

f (x) dx

g(x) dx
a

Proof: To prove property 1, suppose, on the contrary, that

b

f (x) dx = I 0.
a

Then, let a = x0 < x1 < x2 < < xn = b be a partition of [a, b], and let
n

R=
i=1

f (ci )xi

be a Riemann sum because f (x) 0, it follows that R 0. Now for I suciently small, you have |R I| < 2 , which implies that nf (ci )xi = R < I
i=1

I <0 2

which is not possible. From this contracdiction, you can conclude that
b

f (x) dx.

To Prove property 2 of the theorem, note that f (x) g(x) implies that g(x) f (x) 0. So, you can apply the result of property 1 to conclude that
b

0
a

[g(x) f (x)] dx 2

0
a b

g(x) dx
a b

f (x) dx g(x) dx

f (x) dx
a a

Intermediate Value Theorem If f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b], f (a) = f (b), and k is any number between f (a) and f (b), then there is at least one number c in [a, b] such that f (c) = k