Question 22276: The Secant Uses Exact Endpoint Values and a Nonzero Denominator

Original question and givens

Use the whole real polynomial f(t)=A*t^2+B*t+C with A=1, B=-10, C=1, a=-2, b=3 and a<b. Coefficients are quadratic, linear and constant in that order. This declared polynomial is continuous on [a,b] and differentiable on (a,b); finite samples do not certify those hypotheses for an arbitrary function. Give (value_at_a, value_at_b, interval_length, secant_slope, certificate).

• G001 — Use the whole real polynomial f(t)=A*t^2+B*t+C with A=1, B=-10, C=1, a=-2, b=3 and a<b. Coefficients are quadratic, linear and constant in that order. This declared polynomial is continuous on [a,b] and differentiable on (a,b); finite samples do not certify those hypotheses for an arbitrary function. Give (value_at_a, value_at_b, interval_length, secant_slope, certificate).

Definition and scope

Use the original question domain, assumptions and cited MKO definitions. This item has second-context mathematical and bilingual review, with the model, answer and every arithmetic step independently recomputed from the original parameters; the source question remains a candidate.

• mko-mean-value-theorem

Step-by-step derivation

source operation=mvt-secant-slope;original snapshot and mathematics retained

explicit ordered source output fields=[value_at_a, value_at_b, interval_length, secant_slope, certificate]

ORIGINAL WHOLE f(t)=(1)t^2+(-10)t+(1);a=-2<b=3;all endpoint[Ax,Axx,Bx,Axx+Bx,Axx+Bx+C] rows=[[-2, 4, 20, 24, 25], [3, 9, -30, -21, -20]]

English source ALL endpoint intermediate SAFE guards passed;polynomial continuous on CLOSED[a,b] and differentiable on OPEN(a,b),not inferred from finite samples

MVT endpointa ORIGINAL A times x := mul(1, -2)

MVT endpointa ORIGINAL A times x = -2

MVT endpointa A*x times x := mul(-2, -2)

MVT endpointa A*x times x = 4

MVT endpointa ORIGINAL B times x := mul(-10, -2)

MVT endpointa ORIGINAL B times x = 20

MVT endpointa quadratic plus linear := sum(4, 20)

MVT endpointa quadratic plus linear = 24

MVT endpointa plus ORIGINAL constant := sum(24, 1)

MVT endpointa plus ORIGINAL constant = 25

MVT endpointb ORIGINAL A times x := mul(1, 3)

MVT endpointb ORIGINAL A times x = 3

MVT endpointb A*x times x := mul(3, 3)

MVT endpointb A*x times x = 9

MVT endpointb ORIGINAL B times x := mul(-10, 3)

MVT endpointb ORIGINAL B times x = -30

MVT endpointb quadratic plus linear := sum(9, -30)

MVT endpointb quadratic plus linear = -21

MVT endpointb plus ORIGINAL constant := sum(-21, 1)

MVT endpointb plus ORIGINAL constant = -20

MVT ORIGINAL endpoint f(b) minus f(a) := sub(-20, 25)

MVT ORIGINAL endpoint f(b) minus f(a) = -45

MVT ORIGINAL ordered interval length := sub(3, -2)

MVT ORIGINAL ordered interval length = 5

MVT exact secant slope := div(-45, 5)

MVT exact secant slope = -9

Reverse checks

• S015 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT exact secant slope with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S014 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT ORIGINAL ordered interval length with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S013 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT ORIGINAL endpoint f(b) minus f(a) with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S012 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT endpointb plus ORIGINAL constant with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S011 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT endpointb quadratic plus linear with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S010 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT endpointb ORIGINAL B times x with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S009 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT endpointb A*x times x with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S008 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT endpointb ORIGINAL A times x with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S007 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT endpointa plus ORIGINAL constant with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S006 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT endpointa quadratic plus linear with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S005 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT endpointa ORIGINAL B times x with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S004 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT endpointa A*x times x with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S003 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute MVT endpointa ORIGINAL A times x with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
• S002 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
• S001 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.

Result

(25, -20, 5, -9, exact_endpoint_secant_slope)

The full substitutions and premise checks give the original answer; source identity,format and status are unchanged.

This question review and source binding

Review date: 2026-10-26

Original questions, answers, step expressions, numeric ASTs and historical records are retained. Source candidate labels remain historical and are not overwritten as formal proof.