Simple exercise about integrals

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Felafel
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Homework Statement


Let ## f: [0, a]## ---> ## \mathbb{R}## be positive and increasing.
Prove that the function G, such that:
##G(x):= \frac{1}{x} \int_0^x f(t)dt## ## x\in (0,a)##
is increasing.

The Attempt at a Solution


I know that if the first derivative of a function is positive, that function is increasing.
By definition of primitive function, we have that the derivative of ##\int_0^x f(t)dt## is ##f##, which is positive by hypothesis.
However, i can't handle that ##\frac{1}{x}##. If I derivate it I get ##\frac{1}{x^2}##, making things worse.
What should I do with it?
 
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Have you tried to write out a formula for [itex]G'(x)[/itex]? (Apply the rule for the derivative of a product.)
 
awkward said:
Have you tried to write out a formula for [itex]G'(x)[/itex]? (Apply the rule for the derivative of a product.)

yes, and i get ##G ' (x)= -\frac{1}{x^2} \int_0^x f(t)dt + \frac{1}{x} f(x)+c ##
##= \frac{1}{x}(-\frac{1}{x}\int_0^x f(t)dt+f(x)+c)##
but there appears a minus, and i don't know how to go on with the proof
 
I've had an idea, maybe it's correct:
Let us consider ##G ' (x)##
##\frac{1}{x} ## is a positive number (because x>0 in the hypothesis), so i can do as if it weren't there.
Now,
##-\frac{1}{x} \int_0^x f(t)dt+f(x)+c > 0## if ##f(x)+c > \frac{1}{x} \int_0^x f(t)dt##
But ##f(x)## is the upper bound, so for the integral mean theorem we have:
##f(x) (\frac{1}{x-0}) > \int_0^x f(t)dt> m (\frac{1}{x-0})##
and therefore:
##f(x)+c> (\frac{1}{x})\int_0^x f(t)dt##
QED.
or have I made any mistakes?
 
For simplicity, let the antiderivative of f be F.
Then,
[tex]-\frac{1}{x}\int_0^x f(t)dt+f(x) = -\frac{1}{x} (F(x) - F(0)) + f(x)[/tex]
We can apply the mean value theorem in reverse:
There exists a point in the interval [0,x] (lets call it c) such that [tex]F'(c) = f(c) = \frac{F(x) - F(0)}{x-0}[/tex]
Then,
[tex]-\frac{1}{x} (F(x) - F(0)) + f(x) = -f(c) + f(x)[/tex]
But f is an increasing function, so f(x) > f(c) because c < x.
 
Fightfish said:
For simplicity, let the antiderivative of f be F.
Then,
[tex]-\frac{1}{x}\int_0^x f(t)dt+f(x) = -\frac{1}{x} (F(x) - F(0)) + f(x)[/tex]
We can apply the mean value theorem in reverse:
There exists a point in the interval [0,x] (lets call it c) such that [tex]F'(c) = f(c) = \frac{F(x) - F(0)}{x-0}[/tex]
Then,
[tex]-\frac{1}{x} (F(x) - F(0)) + f(x) = -f(c) + f(x)[/tex]
But f is an increasing function, so f(x) > f(c) because c < x.
Great!
Do you think my version above could work as well?
Anyway, loads of thanks!