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The Mean Value Theorem

The document discusses the Mean Value Theorem and some of its corollaries. It states that the Mean Value Theorem says that if a function f is continuous on a closed interval [a,b] and differentiable on the open interval (a,b), then there exists a point c in the interval where the slope of the tangent line equals the slope of the secant line between points a and b. It then provides an example and illustration of this theorem. It also discusses Rolle's Theorem and three corollaries of the Mean Value Theorem regarding functions with a derivative of zero, functions that differ by a constant, and determining if a function is increasing or decreasing.

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Moetassem Saraya
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102 views5 pages

The Mean Value Theorem

The document discusses the Mean Value Theorem and some of its corollaries. It states that the Mean Value Theorem says that if a function f is continuous on a closed interval [a,b] and differentiable on the open interval (a,b), then there exists a point c in the interval where the slope of the tangent line equals the slope of the secant line between points a and b. It then provides an example and illustration of this theorem. It also discusses Rolle's Theorem and three corollaries of the Mean Value Theorem regarding functions with a derivative of zero, functions that differ by a constant, and determining if a function is increasing or decreasing.

Uploaded by

Moetassem Saraya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cal

culus (MATH-282).
Moetassem Billah Saraya.
201902035.
The Mean Value Theorem.

Definition:
 The Mean Value Theorem states that if f is continuous over the
closed interval [a, b] and differentiable over the open interval (a,
b), then there exists a point c ∈ (a, b) such that the tangent line to
the graph of f at c is parallel to the secant line connecting (a,
f(a)) and (b, f(b)).
F ’(c )=f(b)−f(a) /b−a .
*To illustrate the Mean Value Theorem with a specific
function, let’s consider f(x)=x³–x, a=0, b=2.
*Since f is a polynomial, it is continuous and differentiable
for all x. So, it is certainly continuous on [0, 2] and
differentiable on (0, 2).
*Therefore, by the mean value theorem, there is a number
c in (0, 2) such that:
Now, f (2) =6, f (0) =0, and f’(x)=3x²-1.
So, this equation becomes
f’ (c)=f (2) –f (0) / 2 -0= (6-0)/2=6/2 =3.
3c²-1=3.
*This gives c²= 4/3, that is, c=±2 / √3.
*However, c must lie in (0, 2). So c= 2/√3 ≈1.15.
The figure illustrates this calculation.
The tangent line at this value of c is parallel to the secant line
OB.
Rolle’s Theorem:
Let f be a function that satisfies the following three hypotheses:
1. F is continuous on the closed interval [a, b].
2. F is differentiable on the open interval (a, b).
3. F (a)=f (b).
Then there is a number c in (a, b) such that f’ (c)=0.

Corollaries of the Mean Value Theorem:

At this point, we know the derivative of any constant function


is zero. The Mean Value Theorem allows us to conclude that
the converse is also true. In particular, if f′(x)=0 for all x in
some interval I, then f(x) is constant over that interval. This
result may seem intuitively obvious, but it has important
implications that are not obvious.

COROLLAY 1: FUNCTIONS WITH A DERIVATIVE OF


ZERO:
Let f be differentiable over an interval I. If f′(x)=0 for all x∈I,
then f(x)= constant for all x∈I.
Since f is differentiable over I, f must be continuous over I.
Suppose f(x) is not constant for all x in I. Then there exist a, b ∈I,
where a≠b and f(a)≠f(b). Choose the notation so
that a<b. Therefore,
f(b)−f(a) /b−a≠0.
Since f is a differentiable function, by the Mean Value Theorem,
there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that
f′(c)=f(b)−f(a) /b−a.
Therefore, there exists c ∈I such that f'(c)≠0f′(c)≠0, which
contradicts the assumption that f′(x)=0 for all x∈I.
COROLLAY 2: CONSTANT DIFFERENCE THEOREM:
If f and g are differentiable over an interval II and f′(x)=g′(x) for
all x∈I, then f(x)=g(x)+C for some constant C.
Let h(x)=f(x)−g(x). Then, h′(x)=f′(x)−g′(x)=0 for all x∈I. By
Corollary 1, there is a constant C such that h(x)=C for all x∈I.
Therefore, f(x)=g(x)+C for all x∈I.

COROLLARY 3: INCREASING AND DECREASING


FUNCTIONS:

Let f be continuous over the closed interval [a, b] and


differentiable over the open interval (a, b).

i. If f′(x)>0 for all x ∈ (a, b), then f is an increasing function


over [a, b].
ii. If f′(x)<0 for all x∈ (a, b), then f is a decreasing function
over [a, b].

We will prove I; the proof of I. is similar. Suppose f is not an


increasing function on I. Then there exist a and b in I such
that a<b, but f(a)≥f(b). Since f is a differentiable function over I, by
the Mean Value Theorem there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that

f'(c)=f(b)−f(a) /b−a.

Since f(a)≥f(b), we know that f(b)−f(a)≤0. Also, a<b tells us


that b−a>0. We conclude that

f′(c)=f(b)−f(a)/b−a≤0.However, f′(x)>0 for all x∈I. This is a


contradiction, and therefore f must be an increasing function
over I.

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