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Unit-2 Rolle's Theorem Lagrange's Mean Value Theorem

The document provides proofs for Rolle's Theorem and the Lagrange Mean Value Theorem. It states that if a function is continuous on a closed interval and differentiable on an open interval, then there exists a point where the derivative is zero or the slope of the tangent equals the slope of the secant line. The proofs utilize the properties of continuity and differentiability to establish these results.

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26 views4 pages

Unit-2 Rolle's Theorem Lagrange's Mean Value Theorem

The document provides proofs for Rolle's Theorem and the Lagrange Mean Value Theorem. It states that if a function is continuous on a closed interval and differentiable on an open interval, then there exists a point where the derivative is zero or the slope of the tangent equals the slope of the secant line. The proofs utilize the properties of continuity and differentiability to establish these results.

Uploaded by

sixokic135
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 PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Proof of Rolle’s Theorem

Statement: Let f(x) be a function defined on [a,b] satisfying the following conditions:
1. f is continuous on [a,b].
2. f is differentiable on (a,b).
3. f(a) = f(b)
Then there exists at least one point c ∈ [a,b] such that f’(c) = 0
Proof:
Since f(x) is continuous on closed intervals [a,b] and differentiable on open intervals (a,b), f(x) is
bound in its domain, attaining its maximum (M) and minimum (m) value. Therefore, there arise
two cases:
Case 1: Maximum and minimum value are equal (M=m)

In this case f(x)is a constant, hence, f′(x)=0, for all value of x.

Case 2: Maximum (M) and minimum (m) are not equal (M≠m) in (a,b)
If m and M are distinct, then there must be one point c, where f(x) attains its maximum value.
Now at point C, f(c+h)–f(c) ≤ 0 and f(c–h)–f(c) ≤ 0
𝑓(𝑐+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑐) 𝑓(𝑐+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑐)
∴ ≤ 0 and ≥0
ℎ −ℎ
𝑓(𝑐+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑐) 𝑓(𝑐+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑐)
𝑙𝑖𝑚 ≤ 0 and 𝑙𝑖𝑚 ≥0
ℎ→0 ℎ ℎ→0 −ℎ

So, the right-hand derivative and the left-hand derivative at C have different signs (making it
non-differentiable at C), which is a contradiction because we know that f(x) is differentiable.
Hence, f’(𝑐 ) must be equal to zero.
Proof of Lagrange Mean Value Theorem

Statement 1: The Lagrange mean value theorem states that if a function f is continuous
over the closed interval [a,b], and differentiable over the open interval (a,b), then there
exists at least one point c in the interval (a,b) such that the slope of the tangent at the point c
is equal to the slope of the secant through the endpoints of the curve such that
𝑓(𝑏) − 𝑓(𝑎)
f’(𝑐) =
𝑏−𝑎
OR
Statement 2: Let f(x) be a function defined on [a,b] satisfying the following conditions.
1. f is continuous on [a,b]
2. f is differentiable on (a,b)
Then, there exists at least one point 𝑐 ∈ [a,b] such that
𝑓(𝑏) − 𝑓(𝑎)
f’ (𝑐 ) =
𝑏−𝑎

Graph of Lagrange’s Mean Value Theorem


Proof:
Let g(x) be the secant line to f(x) passing through the points (a, f(a)) and (b, f(b)). We know
that the slope of the secant line is
𝑓(𝑏)−𝑓(𝑎)
m= 𝑏−𝑎
and the formula for the secant line is y-y1 = m (x- x1). Further the equation of the secant line
is as follows.
𝑓(𝑏)−𝑓(𝑎)
y - f(a) = 𝑏−𝑎
(x-a)
𝑓(𝑏)−𝑓(𝑎)
y= (x-a) + f(a)
𝑏−𝑎
Since the equation of the secant line is g(x) = y we have
𝑓(𝑏)−𝑓(𝑎)
g(x) = 𝑏−𝑎
(x-a) + f(a) ----->(1)
Let us define a function h(x) which is the difference between the curve f(x), and the secant
line g(x) such that we have h(x) = f(x) - g(x).
h(x) = f(x) - g(x)
Here we apply the value of g(x) from the above expression.
𝑓(𝑏)−𝑓(𝑎)
h(x) = f(x) - [ (x-a) + f(a)]
𝑏−𝑎
Here let us consider the function h(x) is continuous on [a,b] and differentiable on (a,b).
Thus applying the Rolles theorem, there is some x = c in (a,b) such that h'(c) = 0.
𝑓(𝑏)−𝑓(𝑎)
h'(x) = f'(x) –
𝑏−𝑎
For some c in (a,b), h'(c) = 0. Thus,
𝑓(𝑏)−𝑓(𝑎)
h'(c) = f'(c) - =0
𝑏−𝑎
𝑓(𝑏)−𝑓(𝑎)
f'(c) - =0
𝑏−𝑎
𝑓(𝑏)−𝑓(𝑎)
f'(c) =
𝑏−𝑎
Thus, the Lagrange’s Mean Value Theorem has been proved.

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