MATH 31.

2 - Mathematical Analysis IB Online Learning Module, June-August 2020

TOPIC 4 - AVERAGE VALUE OF A FUNCTION

Textbook Reference: Section 5.5 on pages 389-390
YouTube Videos: Part 1

Recall: The average value of finitely many numbers y1 , y2 , . . . , yn is

y1 + y2 + · · · + yn
yave =
n
But how do we compute the average temperature during a day if infinitely many temperature readings
are possible? The figure below shows the graph of a temperature function T (t), where t is measured in
hours and T in ◦ C, and a guess at the average temperature, Tave .

In general, we want to compute the average value of a function y = f (x), a ≤ x ≤ b. To start, we divide
the interval [a, b] into n equal subintervals, each with length ∆x = (b − a)/n, then we choose points
x∗1 , x∗2 , . . . , x∗n in successive subintervals and calculate the average of the numbers f (x∗1 ), f (x∗2 ), . . . , f (x∗n ).
That is
f (x∗1 ) + f (x∗2 ) + · · · + f (x∗n )
n
Since ∆x = (b − a)/n, then n = (b − a)/∆x and the average value becomes

f (x∗1 ) + f (x∗2 ) + · · · + f (x∗n ) 1

= [f (x∗1 ) + f (x∗2 ) + · · · + f (x∗n )] ∆x
b−a b−a
∆x
1
= [f (x∗1 )∆x + f (x∗2 )∆x + · · · + f (x∗n )∆x]
b−a
n
1 X
= f (x∗i )∆x
b − a i=1

If we let n increase, we would be computing the average value of a large number of closely spaced values.
The limiting value is
n Z b
1 X ∗ 1
lim f (xi )∆x = f (x) dx
n→∞ b − a b − a a
i=1

by the definition of a definite integral. Thus, we have the following definition.

Average Value of a Function 1 Version 1 (lco)

MATH 31.2 - Mathematical Analysis IB Online Learning Module, June-August 2020

Average Value of a Function:

The average value of f on the interval [a, b] is
Z b
1
fave = f (x) dx
b−a a

Example 1: Find the average value of the function f (x) = 1 + x2 on the interval [−2, 1].

Solution:
Z 1
1
fave = (1 + x2 ) dx
1 − (−2) −2
 1
x3 

1
= x+
3 3 −2
   
1 1 −8
= 1+ − −2 +
3 3 3
 
1 4 14
= +
3 3 3
1
= (6) = 2
3
Example 2: Consider all squares with side lengths between 1 and 3. Find the average of their areas.

Solution: Let A(s) = s2 be the area function for a square with side length s, where 1 ≤ s ≤ 3. Thus,
Z 3
1
Aave = s2 ds
3−1 1
  3
1 s3 
=
2 3 1
1 13
= (27 − 1) =
6 3

Average Value of a Function 2 Version 1 (lco)

MATH 31.2 - Mathematical Analysis IB Online Learning Module, June-August 2020

Exercises: Find the average value of the function on the given interval.
√ √
1. f (x) = 2 sin x, [−π/3, π/3] 2. f (x) = x + 3 x, [0, 64]

Solutions:

1.
Z π/3
1
fave = 2 sin x dx
(π/3) − (−π/3) −π/3
π/3
1 
= (−2 cos x) 
2π/3 −π/3
   
3 1 1
= −2 · − −2 ·
2π 2 2
3
= (−1 + 1) = 0
2π

2.
Z 64
1 √ √

fave = x + 3 x dx
64 − 0 0
 64
1 x3/2 x4/3 

= +
64 3/2 4/3 0
 
1 512 256
= +
64 3/2 4/3
 
1 1600 25
= =
64 3 3

Practice: (Textbook) Section 5.5 page 391-392: 2, 3, 14, 15, 24.

Average Value of a Function 3 Version 1 (lco)

MATH 31.2 - Mathematical Analysis IB Online Learning Module, June-August 2020

The Mean Value Theorem (MVT) for Integrals:

If f is continuous on [a, b], then there exists a number c in [a, b] such that
Z b
1
f (c) = fave = f (x) dx
b−a a
that is,
Z b
f (x) dx = (b − a)f (c)
a

The geometric interpretation of the MVT for Integrals is that, for positive functions f , there is a
number c such that the rectangle with base [a, b] and height f (c) has the same area as the region under
the graph of f from a to b. (See figure below.)

Example 3: Find number/s c in [−2, 1] such that f (c) = fave if f (x) = 1 + x2 .

Solution: Since f is continuous on [−2, 1], then By MVT for Integrals, there exists a number c in
[−2, 1] such that f (c) = fave . From Example 1 of Average Value of a Function, we know that fave = 2.
Thus, we solve for c in
f (c) = 2 , or equivalently, 1 + c2 = 2
Therefore, c = 1 or c = −1.

Remark: In this particular case, we can find c explicitly. However, there may be some cases that it
would be very difficult to compute for c explicitly.

Example 4: Show that the average velocity of a car over a time interval [a, b] is the same as the average
of its velocities during the trip.

Proof: If s(t) is the displacement of the car at time t, then, by definition, the average velocity of the
car over the interval is
∆s s(b) − s(a)
average velocity = =
∆t b−a
On the other hand, the average value of the velocity function on the interval is
Z b
1
vave = v(t) dt
b−a a
Z b
1
= s0 (t) dt (because v(t) = s0 (t))
b−a a
b
1  1
= (s(t))  = (s(b) − s(a)) = average velocity
b−a a b−a

Average Value of a Function 4 Version 1 (lco)

MATH 31.2 - Mathematical Analysis IB Online Learning Module, June-August 2020

Exercises:

1. Given f (x) = (x + 2)2 , find the average value of f on [−4, −1] and then, find c on [−4, −1] such
that fave = f (c).

Solution:
Z −1
1
fave = (x + 2)2 dx
(−1) − (−4) −4
1 −1 2
Z


= x + 4x + 4 dx
3 −4
 −1
1 x3

2

= + 2x + 4x 
3 3 −4
   
1 −1 −64
= +2−4 − + 32 − 16
3 3 3
 
1 7 16
= − + = 1
3 3 3

Solving for c, we have

f (c) = fave
(c + 2)2 = 1
c + 2 = ±1
c = −3, −1

R2
2. If f is continuous and −2
f (x) dx = 20, show that f takes on the value 5 at least once on the
interval [−2, 2].

Proof: Since f is continuous on [−2, 2], then by MVT for Integrals, there exists a number c in
[−2, 2] such that
Z 2
1 1
f (c) = fave = f (x) dx = (20) = 5
2 − (−2) −2 4

Thus, f takes on the value 5 at least once on the interval [−2, 2].

Practice: (Textbook) Section 5.5 page 391: 9, 10, 13.

Average Value of a Function 5 Version 1 (lco)