6. Let f(x) be differentiable for a < x < b. Which of the following statements must be true?

 

A. f is increasing on (a,b)

B. f is continuous on (a,b)

C. f is bounded on [a,b]

D. f is continuous on [a,b]

E. f is decreasing on [a,b]

 

 

Solution: The answer is B

 

Statements A and E are false, as f(x) = x2 on (-1, 1) shows. This function is decreasing on one part of its domain and increasing on another.

Statements C and D are false. As a counterexample consider f(x) = 1/x on the interval (0, 1).

(B) is a standard result in a first course in calculus.