Mean Value Theorems

I) Rolle's Theorem
1. If f(x) is continuous on closed interval [a, b]
2. f(x) is differentiable on the open interval (a, b) and
3. f(a) = f(b)=0
then there is at least one point c in open interval (a, b) such that () = 0.

Deduction from Rolles Theorem: Between any two roots of the equation f(x) = 0 there exist at
least one root of the equation () = 0.

Example 1: By using Rolles Theorem prove that between any two real roots of the equation
e x sin x 1, there is at least one root of e x cos x 1 0

Solution: Let a and b be roots of the equation e x sin x 1, or sinx = e x

Let f(x) = sinx - e x f '( x) cos x e x

as 'a' & 'b' are roots of f(x) f(a)=0 & f(b)=0
f(x) is continous on [a,b] and differntiable on (a, b)
All coditions of Rolle's theorem are satisfied by f(x)
By Rolle's theorem there exist at least one real number 'c'
between a & b such that f '( x) 0 real number ' c ' is root of cos x e x 0

Example 2: State whether Rolles theorem is applicable for the function f(x)= x x 3 in the
interval (-1, 1) or not.

f ( x) x x 3 for 1 x 1
Solution :

1.Being polynomial function, f(x) is continuous on closed interval [-1, 1] .

2.f(x) is differentiable on the open interval (-1, 1) as f '( x) 1 3x 2 exists.

3.f( 1) = 1 ( 1) = 1+1=0 and f(1) = 1 1 = 0 i.e f( 1) = f(1) = 0.

Thus all conditions of Rolles theorem are satisfied by f(x) .

 1 1
f '( x) 0 1 3 x 2 0 x 2 x
3 3
1 1
c & 1 1
3 3

II)Lagranges Mean Value Theorem

1.If f(x) is continuous on closed interval [a, b] and
2.f(x) is differentiable on the open interval (a, b)
Then there is at least one point c in (a, b) where

f (b) f (a)
f '(c)
ba

ba ba
Example 1:Using Lagranges Mean Value Theorem prove that tan 1 b tan 1 a .
1 b 2
1 a2
3 4 1
Hence show that tan 1 .
4 25 3 4 6

Solution: Let f(x) = tan 1 ( x) in the interval (a, b)

By Lagranges Mean value Theorem there exist at least one point c such that a c b

f (b) f (a )
& f '(c) .(1)
ba

1
As f(x) = tan 1 ( x) f '( x)
1 x2

1 f (b) f (a) tan 1 (b) tan 1 (a)

Equation (1) ..(2)
1 c2 ba ba

1 1 1
But a c b a 2 c b 2 1 a 2 1 c 2 1 b 2 ..............(3)
1 b 2
1 c 2
1 a2

1 tan 1 (b) tan 1 (a)

From Equation (2) replace by in Equation (3)
1 c2 ba

Therefore
 1 tan 1 (b) tan 1 (a) 1

1 b 2
ba 1 a2
ba ba
tan 1 (b) tan 1 (a) ..........(4)
1 b 2
1 a2

4
For a =1 and b= equation (4) implies
3

4 4
1 1 1 1
3 4 4
tan 1 ( ) tan 1 (1) 3 3 tan 1 ( ) 3
1
16 3 11 25 3 4 2
9
9
3 4 1
tan 1 ( )
25 4 3 6 4

Alternative form of Lagranges Mean Value Theorem:

f ( a h) f ( a )
Let b - a = h b=a+h f '(c)
h
ca ca
a c b 0 c a b a 0 1 0 1
ba h
ca
Let i.e c a h
h
0 1 and
f (a h) f (a ) hf 1 (a h)

III) Cauchys Mean Value Theorem

1.If f(x) and g(x) are continuous on closed interval (a, b) and
2.f(x) and g(x) are differentiable on the open interval (a, b)
Then there exists a point c in (a, b) such that

f '(c) f (b) f (a)

where g (b) g (a ) 0 and g '( x) 0 for a x b .
g '(c) g (b) g (a)

Example 1: Test whether CMVT holds for f(x)= x 2 2 and g(x)= x 3 1 in the interval (1, 2).
If so find c .

Example 2: Test whether CMVT holds for f(x)= sin x and g(x)= cos x in the interval (0, ).
2
If so find c .
Deduction from the Mean Value Theorem:

1. If f 1 ( x) 0 throughout the interval (a, b), then f(x) is constant in the interval (a, b).
2. If f 1 ( x) 0 throughout the interval (a, b), then f(x) is monotonic increasing in the
interval (a, b).
3. If f 1 ( x) 0 throughout the interval (a, b), then f(x) is monotonic decreasing in the
interval (a, b).

Exercise:

1. State whether Rolles theorem is applicable for the following function if so find
x

appropriate value of c ,where f(x)= x(x+3) e 2 in the interval 3 x 0
2. State whether Rolles theorem is applicable for the following function if so find
appropriate value of c ,where f(x)= tanx in the interval 0 x
3. Verify Rolles theorem for f(x)= x 2 1 x 2
2
in the interval 0 x 1
4. Using Lagrange Form of Mean Value Theorem Prove that if a 1, b 1 and a b then
ba ba 1 1 1
sin 1 b sin 1 a and hence show that sin 1 .
1 a2 1 b2 6 2 3 4 6 15
5. Test whether following functions satisfies Lagrange Form of Mean Value Theorem and
1
if so find appropriate value of c where f(x)= x(x 1)(x 2), 0 x
2
6. Test whether following functions satisfies Lagrange Form of Mean Value Theorem and
if so find appropriate value of c where f(x)= 2 x3 7 x 10, 2 x 5
7. Using Lagrange Form of Mean Value Theorem show that sin(x+h) sin(x)=hcos( )
where x x h
8. Using Lagrange Form of Mean Value Theorem Prove that if 0 a b then
a b b 1 6 1
1 log 1 and hence show that log .
b a a 6 5 5
9. Separate the intervals in which the function f(x)= x3 6 x 2 36 x 7 is increasing or
decreasing.
10. Separate the intervals in which the function f(x)= 2 x 3 15 x 2 36 x 1 is increasing or
decreasing.