5.

1 The Mean Value Theorem

Calculus
Practice
1. Skater Sully is riding a skateboard back and forth on a street that runs north/south. The twice-differentiable
function 𝑆 models Sully’s position on the street, measured by how many meters north he is from his starting
point, at time 𝑡, measured in seconds from the start of his ride. The table below gives values of 𝑆 𝑡 at selected
times 𝑡.

𝑡
0 20 30 60
seconds
𝑆 𝑡
0 5 7 40
meters

a. For 0 𝑡 20, must there be a time 𝑡 when Sully is 2 meters south of his starting point? Justify your
answer.
𝑺 𝒕 is continuous and 𝑺 𝟎 𝟎 and 𝑺 𝟐𝟎 𝟓

According to the IVT, there is a value 𝒄 such that 𝑺 𝒄 𝟐 and 𝟎 𝒄 𝟐𝟎.

b. For 30 𝑡 60, must there be a time 𝑡 when Sully’s velocity is 1.1 meters per second? Justify your
answer.

𝟒𝟎 𝟕 Yes. According to the MVT, there must be a value

𝑺 𝒕 is differentiable and 𝟔𝟎 𝟑𝟎
𝟏. 𝟏 𝒄 where 𝟑𝟎 𝒄 𝟔𝟎 and 𝑺 𝒄 𝟏. 𝟏.
2. A particle is moving along the 𝑥-axis. The twice-differentiable function 𝑠 models the particles distance from the
origin, measured in centimeters, at time 𝑡, measured in seconds.
𝑡
3 10 20 25
seconds
𝑠 𝑡
5 2 10 8
cm
a. For 20 𝑡 25, must there be a time 𝑡 when the particle is at the origin? Justify your answer.

𝒔 𝒕 is continuous and 𝒔 𝟐𝟎 𝟏𝟎 and 𝒔 𝟐𝟓 𝟖

According to the IVT, there is a value 𝒄 such that 𝒔 𝒄 𝟎 and 𝟐𝟎 𝒄 𝟐𝟓.

b. For 3 𝑡 10, must there be a time 𝑡 when the particle’s velocity is 1 cm per second? Justify your
answer.
𝟐 𝟓
𝒔 𝒕 is differentiable and 𝟏𝟎 𝟑
𝟏.

Yes. According to the MVT, there must be a value 𝒄 where 𝟑 𝒄 𝟏𝟎 and 𝒔 𝒄 𝟏.

3. A hot air balloon is launched into the air with a human pilot. The twice-differentiable function ℎ models the
balloon’s height, measured in feet, at time 𝑡, measured in minutes. The table below gives values of ℎ 𝑡 at
selected times 𝑡.
𝑡
0 6 10 40
minutes
ℎ 𝑡
0 46 35 125
feet
a. For 6 𝑡 10, must there be a time 𝑡 when the balloon is 50 feet in the air? Justify your answer.

𝒉 𝟔 𝟒𝟔 and 𝒉 𝟏𝟎 𝟑𝟓. No, the IVT does not guarantee a height of 50.

b. For 10 𝑡 40, must there be a time 𝑡 when the balloon’s velocity is 3 feet per second? Justify your
answer.
𝟏𝟐𝟓 𝟑𝟓 𝟗𝟎
𝒉 𝒕 is differentiable and 𝟒𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟑𝟎
𝟑.

Yes. According to the MVT, there must be a value 𝒄 where 𝟏𝟎 𝒄 𝟒𝟎 and 𝒉 𝒄 𝟑.

Using the Mean Value Theorem, find where the instantaneous rate of change is equivalent to the average
rate of change.
4. 𝑦 𝑥 5𝑥 2 on 4, 2 5. 𝑦 sin 3𝑥 on 0, 𝜋
 6. 𝑦 5𝑥 15 on 1, 3 7. 𝑦 𝑒 on 0, ln 2

5.1 The Mean Value Theorem Test Prep

Calculator active problem
8. A particle moves along the 𝑥-axis so that its position at any time 𝑡 0 is given by 𝑥 𝑡 𝑡 3𝑡 𝑡 1.
For what values of 𝑡, 0 𝑡 2, is the particle’s instantaneous velocity the same as its average velocity on the
closed interval 0, 2 ?

No calculator on this problem.

9. The table below gives selected values of a function 𝑓. The function is twice differentiable with 𝑓 𝑥 0.
𝑥 𝑓 𝑥
3 12.5
5 13.9
7 16.1
Which of the following could be the value of 𝑓 5 ?

(A) 0.5 (B) 0.7 (C) 0.9 (D) 1.1 (E) 1.3
  y
10. Let 𝑔 be a continuous function. The graph of the
piecewise-linear function 𝑔 , the derivative of 𝑔, is 
4, 2 2, 2
shown above for 4 𝑥 4. Find the average rate 
of change of 𝑔 𝑥 on the interval 4 𝑥 4.
Does the Mean Value Theorem applied on the 
interval 4 𝑥 4 guarantee a value of 𝑐, for x
4 𝑥 4, such that 𝑔 𝑐 is equal to this average          
rate of change? Why or why not? 
1, 0

4, 2


No, because 𝒈′ 𝒙 is not differentiable. It 

has several corners. The MVT only
applies if the function is differentiable. Graph of 𝑔

11.
𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 𝑔 𝑥 𝑔 𝑥
1 3 8 2 4
2 6 3 1 2
3 5 3 6 3
4 2 6 3 5

The functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 are differentiable for all real numbers. The table above gives values of the functions
and their first derivatives at selected values of 𝑥. The function ℎ is given by ℎ 𝑥 𝑓 𝑔 𝑥 2. Must
there be a value 𝑐 for 2 𝑐 4 such that ℎ 𝑐 1.

12. Calculator active problem. Let 𝑓 be the function given by 𝑓 𝑥 2 sin 𝑥. 𝜋

As shown above, the graph 𝑓 crosses the origin at point 𝐴 and point 𝐵 at the 𝑩 ,2
y 2
coordinate point , 2 . Find the 𝑥-coordinate of the point on the graph of
𝑓, between points 𝐴 and 𝐵, at which the line tangent to the graph of 𝑓 is
parallel to line 𝐴𝐵. Round or truncate to three decimals. 𝑓 𝑥

𝑨 0, 0
x
13. A differentiable function 𝑔 has the property that 𝑔 𝑥 2 for 1 𝑥 5 and 𝑔 4 3. Which of the
following could be true?
I. 𝑔 1 6
II. 𝑔 2 0
III. 𝑔 5 4

(A) I only

(B) II only

(C) I and II only

(D) I and III only

(E) II and III only

14. Calculator active problem. Let 𝑓 be the function with 𝑓 1 𝑒, 𝑓 4 , and derivative given by 𝑓 𝑥
𝑥 1 sin 𝑒𝑥 . How many values of 𝑥 in the open interval 1, 4 satisfy the conclusion of the Mean Value
Theorem for the function 𝑓 on the closed interval 1, 4 ?

(A) None

(B) One

(C) Two

(D) More than two