next up previous
Next: Problems Up: Internet Calculus II Previous: The Fundamental Theorem of

Using the mean value theorem for integrals to finish the proof of FTC

Let $ f(t)$ be continuous on $ [a,b]$.
For each $ x$ in $ [a,b]$, define $ F(x)$ by the formula:

$\displaystyle F(x) = \int_a^x f(t) dt.$

To finsh the proof of FTC, we must prove that $ F'(x) = f(x)$.
We do this by calculating the derivative of $ F$ from first principles.
For the proof, we use the Mean Value Theorem for integrals of continuous functions:

$\displaystyle \int_p^q f(t) dt = f(\xi)(q -p), $

for some $ \xi$ between $ p$ and $ q$.
Put $ p = x$ and $ q = x+h$, so that $ q - p = h$.
Then we have, by the Mean Value Theorem for Integrals, for any $ x$ and any $ h$, such that $ x$ and $ x + h$ lie in the interval $ [a,b]$:

$\displaystyle \int_x^{x+ h} f(t) dt = f(\xi(h)) h,$

where $ \xi(h) $ lies between $ x$ and $ x + h$.
Then we have, for any $ x$ and any $ h \ne 0$, such that $ x$ and $ x + h$ lie in the interval $ [a,b]$:

$\displaystyle \frac{F(x + h) - F(x)}{h} = \frac{1}{h}\left(\int_a^{x + h} f(t) dt - \int_a^x f(t) dt\right) = \frac{1}{h}\int_x^{x + h} f(t) dt =
f(\xi(h)).$

Now let $ h \rightarrow 0$.
Then $ x + h\rightarrow x$, so by squeeze, since $ \xi(h) $ always lies between $ x$ and $ x + h$, we have: $ \xi(h) \rightarrow x$ also.
Since $ f$ is continuous, we then have $ f(\xi(h)) \rightarrow f(x)$.
So we have proved that for any $ x$ in $ [a,b]$:

$\displaystyle \lim_{h\rightarrow 0} \frac{F(x + h) - F(x)}{h} = f(x).$

But the left hand side of this equation is just the definition of $ F'(x)$.
So we have proved that $ F'(x)$ exists and is equal to $ f(x)$, for any $ x$ in $ [a,b]$, as required.
This completes the proof of FTC.
next up previous
Next: Problems Up: Internet Calculus II Previous: The Fundamental Theorem of
George A. J. Sparling 2002-01-27