The Race Track Principle
The Race Track Principle says that if horse A always runs faster than horse
B, and if they start a race at the same place and time, horse A is bound to
win. That's not too difficult is it? In terms of functions and their
derivatives, it says if f'[x] > g'[x] for all x > 0, and if
f[0] = g[0], then f[x] > g[x] for all x > 0. For you
math types, it's the mean value theorem in its active voice. (There's no
there exists in it anywhere.) Students in Calculus&Mathematica
courses use
it to get inequalities like
x1/2 - y1/2 < (x - y)1/2 for
x > y. They also use it to get a good idea
about why Euler's method for approximate integration of functions and
differential equations gives reasonably accurate results. All of that from
a simple little principle that looks like this: