- #1
JamesF
- 14
- 0
Hi all. Having a little trouble on this week's problem set. Perhaps one of you might be able to provide some insight.
[tex] f:[a,b] \rightarrow \mathbb{R} [/tex] is continuous and twice differentiable on (a,b). If f(a)=f(b)=0 and f(c) > 0 for some [tex] c \in (a,b) [/tex] then [tex] \exists \gamma \in (a,b) [/tex] s.t. [tex] f \prime \prime (\gamma) < 0 [/tex]
Rolle's Theorem, MVT, Intermediate Value Theorem
I'm not really sure how to approach the problem. I'm assuming you would apply Rolle's theorem or the Mean Value Theorem, or perhaps the Intermediate Value Property to the problem in order to obtain the solution.
With those theorems we can infer that [tex]\exists \theta [/tex] st [tex] f \prime (\theta) = 0 [/tex]
f(c) > 0 so there must be points u,v st f'(u) > 0 and f'(v) < 0
but none of that really gives me any info on the second derivative, which is what I need. I'm sure I'm overlooking something simple as usual, but if anyone could point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated.
Homework Statement
[tex] f:[a,b] \rightarrow \mathbb{R} [/tex] is continuous and twice differentiable on (a,b). If f(a)=f(b)=0 and f(c) > 0 for some [tex] c \in (a,b) [/tex] then [tex] \exists \gamma \in (a,b) [/tex] s.t. [tex] f \prime \prime (\gamma) < 0 [/tex]
Homework Equations
Rolle's Theorem, MVT, Intermediate Value Theorem
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm not really sure how to approach the problem. I'm assuming you would apply Rolle's theorem or the Mean Value Theorem, or perhaps the Intermediate Value Property to the problem in order to obtain the solution.
With those theorems we can infer that [tex]\exists \theta [/tex] st [tex] f \prime (\theta) = 0 [/tex]
f(c) > 0 so there must be points u,v st f'(u) > 0 and f'(v) < 0
but none of that really gives me any info on the second derivative, which is what I need. I'm sure I'm overlooking something simple as usual, but if anyone could point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated.