Can you reduce an inequality by taking a derivative?

Solution 1:

If $[a, b]$ is some interval, $f(a) < g(a)$, and $f'(x) \le g'(x)$ on the interval, then $f(x) < g(x)$ on the interval (exercise). This implication cannot be reversed; consider $[a, b] = [0, 10], f(x) = 20 - x, g(x) = x$.

Solution 2:

Consider the functions $f(x)=2x$ and $g(x)=3x+c$. Clearly $f'(x)=2<3=g'(x)$ everywhere. On the other hand, $g(x)<f(x)$ if and only if $x<c$, so if you want to have $g(x)<f(x)$ on $[a,b]$, just take $c>b$. Thus, on every bounded interval there is an easy counterexample.