Analyzing the Setup
Imagine you are standing on the edge of a vast, smooth, and gently rising landscape, represented by the curve f(x)=logex. You are looking at the interval from x=1 to x=3.
We start by identifying our boundary points. At x=1, the function value is f(1)=loge1=0.
At x=3, the function value is f(3)=loge3. These two points, A(1,0) and B(3,loge3), define the landscape we are traversing.
The Secant Line
The Average Perspective
Now, imagine drawing a straight, dashed green line connecting point A and point B. This is the secant line, which represents the average rate of change of our function over the interval [1,3].
The slope of this line is calculated as the change in y divided by the change in x:
Substituting our values, we get:
Slope=3−1loge3−0=2loge3
This value is the average slope, the steady, unwavering climb from A to B.
The Tangent Line
The Instantaneous Perspective
The curve is not a straight line; it is a living, breathing logarithmic function. Lagrange's Mean Value Theorem (LMVT) tells us there must be at least one point c in the open interval (1,3) where the instantaneous slope of the curve is exactly equal to the average slope.
To find this, we need the derivative of our function. The derivative of f(x)=logex is a fundamental result in calculus:
At our unknown point c, the slope of the tangent is f′(c)=c1.
The Bridge
Equating the Two
We are now at the heart of the problem. We equate the instantaneous slope to the average slope:
This gives us the equation:
This is the bridge between the average and the instantaneous. It is a simple algebraic equation that holds the secret to the curve's behavior.
The Logarithmic Twist
Solving for c
Solving for c is where we apply our logarithmic toolkit. Rearranging the equation, we get:
Using the change of base property, where logab1=logba, we can transform this into:
This is our final answer. If you calculate its decimal value, c≈1.82, which sits perfectly within our interval (1,3).
We have successfully found the point where the tangent is perfectly parallel to the secant line, confirming the power and elegance of the Mean Value Theorem.