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[parent] fundamental theorem of integral calculus (Theorem)

The derivative of a real function, which has on a whole interval a constant value $c$ , vanishes in every point of this interval: $$\frac{d}{dx}c \;=\; 0$$

The converse theorem of this is also true. Ernst Lindelöf calls it the fundamental theorem of integral calculus (in Finnish integraalilaskun peruslause). It can be formulated as

Theorem. If a real function in continuous and its derivative vanishes in all points of an interval, the value of this function does not change on this interval.

Proof. We make the antithesis that there were on the interval two distinct points $x_1$ and $x_2$ with $f(x_1) \neq f(x_2)$ . Then the mean-value theorem guarantees a point $\xi$ between $x_1$ and $x_2$ such that $$f'(\xi) \;=\; \frac{f(x_1)\!-\!f(x_2)}{x_1\!-\!x_2},$$ which value is distinct from zero. This is, however, impossible by the assumption of the theorem. So the antithesis is wrong and the theorem right.

The contents of the theorem may be expressed also such that if two functions have the same derivative on a whole interval, then the difference of the functions is constant on this interval. Accordingly, if $F$ is an antiderivative of a function $f$ , then any other antiderivative of $f$ has the form $x \mapsto F(x)\!+\!C$ , where $C$ is a constant.




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Cross-references: antiderivative, difference, mean-value theorem, proof, function, continuous, theorem, Ernst Lindelöf, converse theorem, point, vanishes, interval, real function, derivative
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This is version 3 of fundamental theorem of integral calculus, born on 2009-02-25, modified 2009-03-08.
Object id is 11655, canonical name is FundamentalTheoremOfIntegralCalculus.
Accessed 679 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC26A06 (Real functions :: Functions of one variable :: One-variable calculus)

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