Calculus Volume 1

Chapter 5 | Integration

551

Figure 5.26 By the Mean Value Theorem, the continuous function f ( x ) takes on its average value at c at least once over a closed interval.

Find the average value of the function f ( x ) = x 2

over the interval ⎡

⎤ ⎦ and find c such that f ( c )

5.14

⎣ 0, 6

equals the average value of the function over [0, 6].

Example 5.16 Finding the Point Where a Function Takes on Its Average Value

3 x 2 dx =9, find c such that f ( c ) equals the average value of f ( x ) = x 2 over [0, 3].

Given ∫

0

Solution We are looking for the value of c such that

3

3−0 ∫

x 2 dx = 1 3

f ( c ) = 1

(9) =3.

0

Replacing f ( c ) with c 2 , we have

c 2 = 3 c = ± 3. Since − 3 is outside the interval, take only the positive value. Thus, c = 3 ( Figure 5.27 ).

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