Use the Intermidiate Value Theorem to prove that there is a positive number c such that c^2 = 2.

This exercise is asking to prove the existance of the square root of 2. So let's consider the function f(x) = x^2. Since f(x) is a polynomial, then it is continuous on the interval (- infinity, + infinity). Using the Intermidiate Value Theorem, it would be enough to show that at some point a f(x) is less than 2 and at some point b f(x) is greater than 2. For example, let a = 0 and b = 3. Therefore, 

f(0) = 0, which is less than 2, and f(3) = 9, which is greater than 2. Applying IVT to f(x) = x^2 on the interval [0,3] and taking N=2, we can therefore guarantee the existance of a number c such that 0<c<2 and c^2 = 2. 

Answered by Dilyana K. Maths tutor

7647 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Prove that the difference of the square of two consecutive odd numbers is always a multiple of 8. [OCR GCSE June 2017 Paper 5]


a x 10^4 + a x 10^2 = 24 240 where a is a number. Work out a x 10^4 - a x10^2 Give your answer in standard form.


How do I simplify an equation?


explain and show how quadratic equations are solved


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences