 Symmetric derivative criterion for monotonicity

A continuous function on an open interval with positive symmetric derivative everywhere is strictly increasing. One proof takes an antiderivative $F$ using the fundamental theorem of calculus. For small positive $h$, the identityfollows from $f^s(x)>0$. If $F$ exceeded a chord, its difference from the chord would attain a positive interior maximum, contradicting this symmetric difference inequality. Thus $F$ is a convex function, and its derivative $f$ is nondecreasing. Equality at two different points would make $f$ constant between them and force an interior symmetric derivative to vanish, proving strict monotonicity.