Let f:[a,b]→R be a twice differentiable function such that
f(a)=f(b)=1b−a∫baf(x)dx.
Show there exists c∈(a,b) such that f″(c)=0.
Attempts:
To me, this looks a lot like the intermediate value theorem on f″(c). Assuming f is Riemann integrable, the right is F(b)−F(a)b−a,F′(x)=f(x), which is the form of the mean value theorem.
I've gotten that f′ is Riemann integrable, and that ∫baf′(x)dx=0 via the fundamental theorem of calculus.
However, I'm having trouble applying this information to the second derivative, which seems to lack a lot of information. f″(x) has the intermediate value property, as all derivatives do. However, finding values of f″(x) to apply the intermediate value property seems out of my grasp.
Answer
Let F(x)=∫xaf(t)dt. Then clearly F is continuous on [a,b] and differentiable in [a,b] with F′(x)=f(x). By Mean value Theorem (F(b)−F(a))/(b−a)=F′(ξ)=f(ξ) for some ξ∈(a,b). Thus we get f(a)=f(b)=f(ξ) where a<ξ<b. Clearly by Rolle's Theorem we have f′(η)=0=f′(θ) for some η∈(a,ξ) and some θ∈(ξ,b). And then again applying Rolle's theorem on f′ we get f″(c)=0 for some c∈(η,θ)⊂(a,b).
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