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Old 04-08-2004, 01:02 AM   #1 (permalink)
frozenstellar
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Location: Australia
Intermediate Value Theorum - WTF?

howdy brainiacs and math gods (from my reading in this forum, there are quite a few of you here!). Having my first year adv math lectures fall behind schedule, we've rushed the last part of the final lectures given before easter break, so i have a few questions that i can't get answered by the math faculty over the easter break, so i turn to you guys.

The intermediate value theorum, i dont understand what it is. he's stated that there are essentially three parts to it

1. f is bounded on the interval [a,b]
2. f attains a maximum M and a minimum m in the interval [a,b]
3. f takes every value in [m,M] at least once for the interval x E [a,b]

i understand what each three parts mean - but is there a method of using this theorum? i submitted homework earlier today to a question (homework doesnt get marked, just get feedback on errors)

show that equation x + sin(x) = 1 has atleast one solution in the interval [0, pi/6]

i didnt show any calculations, just statements regarding what that curve does over [0,pi/6]. i know people dont like discussing homework - but i wont get feedback on this until the 21st april, and the midsemester is on the 23rd, so if anyone could clarify what exactly i am supposed to do with this theorum, it'd be absolutely awesome.

Cheers
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