Let f be continuous on [0,1] and such that f(0)<0 and f(1)>1. Prove that there exists c in (0,1) such that f(c)=c^4

Isaac Barry

Isaac Barry

Answered question

2022-09-27

Let f be continuous on [ 0 , 1 ] and such that f ( 0 ) < 0 and f ( 1 ) > 1. Prove that there exists c ( 0 , 1 ) such that f ( c ) = c 4

Answer & Explanation

Haylie Campbell

Haylie Campbell

Beginner2022-09-28Added 13 answers

If we let g ( x ) = f ( x ) x 4 , then we are given g ( 0 ) = f ( 0 ) 0 < 0 and g ( 1 ) = f ( 1 ) 1 > 0. Since f is continuous and x 4 is continuous, their difference is, and g is defined on the interval [ 0 , 1 ], so we can apply the Intermediate Value Theorem to g. In particular, since g ( 0 ) < 0 < g ( 1 ), there exists c ( 0 , 1 ) such that g ( c ) = 0, so f ( c ) c 4 = 0, or f ( c ) = c 4 as we desiblack.
seguitzla

seguitzla

Beginner2022-09-29Added 4 answers

consider
g ( x ) = f ( x ) x 4
g ( x ) is continuous from [ 0 , 1 ] since both f ( x ) and x 4 continuous on [ 0 , 1 ].
Now, g ( 0 ) = f ( 0 ) 0 4 = a < 0 (since f ( 0 ) < 0 is given)
g ( 1 ) = f ( 1 ) 1 4 = b > 0 (since f ( 1 ) > 1 is given)
g ( x ) is continuous, so by Intermediate Value Theorem, for every d between g ( 0 ) and g ( 1 ) c ( 0 , 1 ) such that g ( c ) = d
Choose d = 0 so we have g ( c ) = 0 or g ( c ) = f ( c ) c 4 = 0 which implies
f ( c ) = c 4 f o r c ( 0 , 1 )

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