The problem says:
If | f(w) - f(x) | < or = | w - x | for all values w and x, and f is a differentiable function, show that
-1 < or = f'(x) < or = 1 for all x values.
Every time I think I know how to do it, I get confused. Any help? Thanks.
If | f(w) - f(x) | < or = | w - x | for all values w and x, and f is a differentiable function, show that
-1 < or = f'(x) < or = 1 for all x values.
Every time I think I know how to do it, I get confused. Any help? Thanks.
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Suppose that y and z are distinct.
Applying the Mean Value Theorem to f yields
f(y) - f(z) = f '(c) (y - z) for some c between y and z.
However, we know that |f(y) - f(z)| ≤ |y - z|.
Therefore, taking absolute values of the MVT relation yields
|f '(c) (y - z)| = |f(y) - f(z)| ≤ |y - z|
==> |f '(c)| |y - z| ≤ |y - z|
==> |f '(c)| ≤ 1.
Since y and z are arbitrary, we can conclude that |f '(x)| ≤ 1 for all x.
==> -1 ≤ f '(x) ≤ 1 for all x.
I hope this helps!
Applying the Mean Value Theorem to f yields
f(y) - f(z) = f '(c) (y - z) for some c between y and z.
However, we know that |f(y) - f(z)| ≤ |y - z|.
Therefore, taking absolute values of the MVT relation yields
|f '(c) (y - z)| = |f(y) - f(z)| ≤ |y - z|
==> |f '(c)| |y - z| ≤ |y - z|
==> |f '(c)| ≤ 1.
Since y and z are arbitrary, we can conclude that |f '(x)| ≤ 1 for all x.
==> -1 ≤ f '(x) ≤ 1 for all x.
I hope this helps!