A function $f:\mathbb{R}\mapsto \mathbb{R}$ is continuous and smooth in $[a,b]$. How can I prove that the minimum of the function will be either at the end points or where the derivative goes to zero.
The extreme value theorem states that there is at least one minimum and one maximum. However, I was looking for a proof that the global minimum is either at the end points or the derivative.
EDIT
As pointed out in the comments, it would be more appropriate to say if $f(c)$ is a minimum, then how do we prove that $c$ is either the end points or $f'(c)=0$ ?
Answer
Proof by contradiction to show that the global minimum is either at the end points or at an interior point where the derivative is zero.
Suppose it is not at the end points (say, at $x_0 \in(a,b)$) and the derivative is non-zero. Then for all $\epsilon > 0$, there exist $\delta > 0$ such that
$$\left|\frac{f(x)-f(x_0)}{x-x_0}-f'(x_0)\right|<\epsilon$$
for $|x-x_0|<\delta$.
In other words
$$f'(x)-\epsilon <\frac{f(x)-f(x_0)}{x-x_0}
$$\frac{f(x)-f(x_0)}{x-x_0}<0$$
or in other words for $x_0+\delta>x>x_0$
$$f(x)
Similarly, for $f'(x)>0$, we can choose small enough $\epsilon$ such that
$$\frac{f(x)-f(x_0)}{x-x_0}>0$$
or in other words for $x_0-\delta
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