The Mean Value Theorem states that if a function f is continuous on the closed interval [a,b] and differentiable on the open interval (a,b), then there exists a point c in the interval (a,b) such that f'(c) is equal to the function's average rate of change over [a,b]. In other words, the graph has a tangent somewhere in (a,b) that is parallel to the secant line over [a,b]