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(1) Rolle's theorem says that if f(x) if differentiable in the interval (a,b) and f(a)=f(b), there must be a point c such that f'(c) = 0. Proving this one uses
by thanatropism 10y ago
(1) Rolle's theorem says that if f(x) if differentiable in the interval (a,b) and f(a)=f(b), there must be a point c such that f'(c) = 0.
Proving this one uses maths that, although simple, more analysis-like than calculus-like, but it should be intuitive if you try to draw a function with f(a)=f(b). It has to come up and down so it has a point where it has a horizontal tangent.
(2) The Mean Value Theorem is like Rolle's theorem, but "tilting" or "rotating" your function, so that if f(b) = r(f(b)-f(a)) then there's a point c with f'(c) = r. And this is already an order 1 Taylor series! It gives
f(b) = f(a) + (b-a) f'(c) for some c
(3) Now what remains is just induction. For an order-2 series, write the order-1 series for f'(c) as a function of f'(b). You'll start to see the pattern. If you really want to put a bow on it, you can assume the order (n-1) series exists with the known formula and prove the order (n) series works out.