MATH-101 Calculus and Analytical Geometry – 3-0 CHs

By

Prof Dr Safia Akram

ROLLE’S THEOREM
&
MEAN-VALUE THEOREM

Lec # 14

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 ROLLE’S THEOREM
The theorem discovered by Michel Rolle provides sufficient
conditions for the existence of a critical number.
This theorem states the geometrically obvious fact that if the graph of
a differentiable function intersects the ‘𝑥’ -axis at two places, ‘𝑎’ and
‘𝑏’ , then somewhere between ‘𝑎’ and ‘𝑏’ there must be at least one
place where the tangent line is horizontal.

Rolle’s Theorem says that

a differentiable curve has at
least one horizontal tangent
between any two points
where it crosses a horizontal
line. It may have just one
(a), or it may have more (b).

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 The precise statement of the theorem is as follows.

Theorem :

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

differentiable on the open interval (𝑎, 𝑏).
If 𝑓 𝑎 = 0 and 𝑓 𝑏 = 0
then there is at least one point c in the interval (𝑎, 𝑏) such that
𝑓 ′ 𝑐 = 0.

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Example: Verify Rolle’s theorem for
𝑓 𝑥 = 1 − 𝑥 2/3 on −1, 1

Solution 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous on −1, 1 and 𝑓 −1 = 0 = 𝑓 1

′
2 −
1 2
𝑓 𝑥 =− 𝑥 3=− 1
3
3𝑥 3
2
Now using 𝑓′ 0 = = undefined
0

So 𝑓 𝑥 is not differentiable at 0 ∈ −1, 1 . Hence Rolle’s

theorem fails.

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REMARKS # 1:
The differentiability requirement in Rolle’s Theorem is critical. If
𝑓 𝑥 fails to be differentiable at even one place in the interval (𝑎, 𝑏),
then the conclusion of the theorem may not hold.
For Example, the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 1 graphed in Figure.

has roots at 𝑥 = −1 and 𝑥 = 1, yet there is no horizontal tangent to

the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 over the interval −1,1
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REMARKS # 2:
If 𝑓 𝑥 satisfies the conditions of Rolle’s Theorem on 𝑎, 𝑏 , then the
theorem guarantees the existence of at least one point c in (𝑎, 𝑏) at
which 𝑓 ′ 𝑐 = 0. There may, however, be more than one such c.
For Example, the function 𝑓 𝑥 = sin 𝑥 is continuous and
differentiable everywhere, so the hypotheses of Rolle’s Theorem are
satisfied on the interval 0, 𝜋 whose endpoints are roots of 𝑓 𝑥 .

As indicated in Figure, there are two points in the interval 0, 2𝜋 at which

the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 has a horizontal tangent, 𝑐1 = 𝜋Τ2 and 𝑐1 = 3𝜋Τ2 8
 NOTE:

In pervious examples we were able to find exact values of c because

the equation 𝑓 𝑥 = 0 was easy to solve. However, in the applications
of Rolle’s Theorem it is usually the existence of c that is important and
not its actual value.

THE MEAN-VALUE THEOREM

The Mean Value Theorem, which was first stated by Joseph-Louis

Lagrange, is a slanted version of Rolle’s Theorem.

Or

Rolle’s Theorem is a special case of a more general result, called the

Mean-Value Theorem.
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Geometrically, this theorem states that between any two points 𝐴 𝑎, 𝑓 𝑎
and 𝐵 𝑏, 𝑓 𝑏 on the graph of a differentiable function 𝑓 𝑥 , there is at
least one place where the tangent line to the graph is parallel to the secant
line joining 𝐴 and 𝐵.
Or
There is a point where the tangent is parallel to chord AB

The graph of ƒ and the chord

AB over the interval [a, b].

The graph of ƒ where tangent

line is parallel to the secant line. 10
THEOREM (Mean-value Theorem) Let 𝑓 𝑥 be continuous on the
closed interval [𝑎, 𝑏] and differentiable on the open interval (𝑎, 𝑏).
then there is at least one point c in the interval (𝑎, 𝑏) such that

′
𝑓 𝑏 − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑓 𝑐 =
𝑏−𝑎

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Example 1: Show that the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 + 1 satisfies the
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conditions of the Mean- value Theorem over the interval 0, 2 , and find all
values of c in the interval (0, 2) at which the tangent line to the graph of 𝑓 is
parallel to the secant line joining the points (0, 𝑓 0 ) and 2, 𝑓 2 .
Solution The function 𝑓 is continuous and differentiable everywhere
because it is a polynomial. In particular, 𝑓 is continuous on 0, 2 and
differentiable on (0, 2). So the conditions of the Mean- value Theorem are
satisfied with 𝑎 = 0 and 𝑏 = 2. But
1
𝑓 𝑎 = 𝑓 0 = (0)3 +1 = 1,
4
1
𝑓 𝑏 = 𝑓 2 = (2)3 +1 = 3
4
′
3 2 ′
3 2
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 , 𝑓 𝑐 = 𝑐
4 4
𝑓 𝑏 −𝑓(𝑎)
Now using 𝑓′ 𝑐 = 𝑏−𝑎
3 2 3−1 2
𝑐 = = = 1 or 3𝑐 2 = 4 ⇒ 𝑐 = ± 2Τ 3 = ±1.15
4 2−0 2
However, only the positive solution lies in the interval (0, 2). So 𝑐 = 1.15. 12
Example: The function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 is continuous and differentiable
everywhere because it is a polynomial. In particular, 𝑓 is continuous on
0, 2 and differentiable on (0, 2). So the conditions of the Mean- value
Theorem are satisfied with 𝑎 = 0 and 𝑏 = 2. But

𝑓 𝑎 = 𝑓 0 = 0, 𝑓 𝑏 = 𝑓 2 = 4,

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 2𝑥, 𝑓 ′ 𝑐 = 2𝑐
𝑓 𝑏 −𝑓(𝑎)
Now using 𝑓′ 𝑐 = 𝑏−𝑎
4−0
2𝑐 = 2−0 = 2 ⇒ 𝑐 = 1.

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Example: If 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑥 − 1 𝑥 − 2 on 0, 1Τ2 find ‘c’ of the mean
value theorem.
Solution 𝑓 𝑥 =𝑥 𝑥−1 𝑥−2
𝑓 𝑎 = 𝑓 0 = 0,
1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3
𝑓 𝑏 =𝑓 = −1 −2 = − − = ,
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 8

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 2, 𝑓 ′ 𝑐 = 3𝑐 2 − 6c + 2
3
𝑓 𝑏 − 𝑓(𝑎) 8 − 0 3
= =
𝑏−𝑎 1 4
2
𝑓 𝑏 −𝑓(𝑎)
Now using 𝑓′ 𝑐 = 𝑏−𝑎
3 7
3𝑐 2 − 6c + 2 = ⇒ 12𝑐 2 − 24c + 5 = 0 ⇒c=1±
4 12
7 1
But the point c = 1 + does not belong to 0, .
12 2
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Hence the only admissible value of c is 1 −
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Example: For the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 check whether the
mean value theorem holds on the interval −2, 2 .

Solution The graph of the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 is

continuous on the closed interval −2, 2 but doesn't have a
derivative at 𝑥 = 0 in the open interval −2, 2 . Thus
condition of mean value theorem doesn't holds on the
interval −2, 2 .

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EXERCISE

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