Mean Value Theorems (MVT)

Rolle’s Theorem

If (i) f(x) is a continuous function in the closed interval [a, b]

(ii) f(x) is differentiable in the open interval (a, b)
(iii) f(a) = f(b)
Then there is at least one value c in the open interval (a, b) such that f ’(c )=0.

Ex1
Verify Rolle’s theorem for the function f(x) in [a, b] where m and n are positive integers
f  x   x  a  x  b
m n

Sol:
 i  f  x  is continuous in  a, b 
 ii  f  x  is differentiable in  a, b 
 iii  f  a   0; f  b   0
All the conditions are satisfied.
Hence Rolle’s theorem is applicable. Therefore there is a point c in (a, b) such that f’(c )=0

now f 1  x   m  x  a   x  b    x  a  .n  x  b 
m 1 n m n 1

f 1  c   0; gives  c  a   c  b  m  c  b   n  c  a    0
m 1 n 1

  m  c  b   n  c  a    0
mb  na
  m  n  c  mb  na;  c  where a  c  b.
mn
c divides (a, b) in the ratio m:n.
(1,2) [1,2]

Ex 2
Verify Rolle’s theorem for f(x) in [-1,1].
f  x  x
sol :  i the function f  x  x , is continuous in [ 1, 1]
 ii  f  1  1  f  1
 iii  But The function is not derivable at x  0 in [1,1]
Thus the conditions are not satisfied.

Rolle’s theorem is not applicable.

Ex3
Consider the function f(x) = (x-2) log x.
show that xlogx = 2-x has a root between 1 and 2.

Sol : f(x) = (x-2) log x

i) f(x) is continuous in [1,2]
ii) f(x) is differentiable in (1,2)
iii) f(1) = 0 = f(2)

f(x) satisfies all the conditions of Rolle’s theorem.

There is a value c in (1,2) such that f’(c)=0

 c  2
f i
 c   log c  0;  c  2  c log c  0 where c is in  1, 2 
c
 c log c  2  c
xlogx = 2-x has a root ‘c’ between 1 and 2.

Lagrange’s Mean Value Theorem

If (i) f(x) is a continuous function in the closed interval [a, b]

(ii) f(x) is differentiable in the open interval (a, b)
Then there is at least one value c in the open interval (a, b), such that
f  b  f  a
f 1  c 
ba
Another form of Lagrange’s Mean Value Theorem

If (i) f(x) is a continuous function in the closed interval [a, a+h]

(ii) f(x) is differentiable in the open interval (a, a+h)
Then there is at least one value θ in the open interval (0, 1), such that
f  a  h  f  a
f 1  a   h 
h

Ex4
Find the intervals in which f(x) = x + 1/x is increasing or decreasing.

1 1 x2  1
sol : f  x   x  ; f  x 1 2 
1

x x x2
x2  1
1) f  x  is an increa sin g function if f 1
 x   0 ie 2
 0 ie x 2  1
x
ie x  1 or x   1

x2  1
2) f  x  is decrea sin g function if f 1  x   0 ie  0 ie x 2  1
x2
ie  1  x  1

Ex5
ba b ba
prove that  log    ; for 0  a  b
b a a
1 4 1
deduce  log 
4 3 3
sol : f  x   log x in [a, b]
f ( x ) is continuou s in  a, b  ; differentiable in  a , b  .
Lagrange MVT is applicable

f (b )  f ( a ) 1
Hence  f 1  c  ; but f  x   log x;  f 1  c  
ba c
log b  log a 1
 
ba c ; but a < ç < b ------(1)

1 1 1 1 1 1
  ;   
a c b b c a -------------(2)
From 1 and 2 we get

1 log b  log a 1
 
b ba a
ba b ba
 log   
b a a
Let a=3; b=4;
1 4 1
  log 
4 3 3

Cauchy’s Mean Value Theorem

If (i) f(x) and g(x) are two continuous function in the closed interval [a, b]
(ii) f(x) and g(x) are differentiable in the open interval (a, b)
(iii) g’(x ) Not = 0 for any x in (a, b)

Then there is at least one value c in the open interval (a, b), such that
f  b  f  a f 1  c

g  b  g  a g1  c 

Ex5
Using Cauchy’s MVT show that
sin b  sin a
 cot c; a  c  b, a  0, b  0
cos a  cos b

sol : let f  x   sin x and g  x   cos x

F(x) and g(x) are continuous on [a,b] and differentiable on (a,b) and
g’(x ) not= 0 for any c in (a,b).

by cauchy’s MVT
f b  f  a f 1  c
 ; acb
g  b  g  a g1  c 

sin b  sin a cos c


cos b  cos a sin c

sin b  sin a
  cot c
cos a  cos b
Ex6
If f ( x) and g ( x) are e x and e  x respectively, prove that c of Cauchy ' s MVT
is the arithmetic mean between a and b.

sol : 1) f  x  and g  x  are continuous in [a , b ]and differentiable

on  a, b  . g 1  x   0 for any c in  a, b  .
By Cauchy ' s MVT
f  b  f  a f 1  c
 ;
g  b   g  a  g1  c 

f  x   e x ; f 1  x   e x ; g  x   e  x ; g 1  x   e  x

eb  e a ec eb  e a ec
 b  a   c ; 
e e e 1 1 1
b
 a
e e ec
eb  e a
 a b  e 2 c ;
e e
eb e a
 eb  e a  a b
  a b  .  e e   e 2 c
e e 
ab
  e ab  e 2 c ;  a  b  2c;  c 
2
Ex7
Prove that log (1+x) = x/(1+θx) where 0<θ<1; hence deduce that
x/(1+x)<log (1+x)<x; x>0.
Sol: let f(x)=log(1+x);
f  a  h   f  a   hf 1  a   h 
1
f 1  x 
1 x
Put a=0; h=x ,
 f  x   f  0   xf 1   x   xf 1   x   f  0   log1  0       1
x
 from  1 we get f ( x)  log  1  x   xf 1   x  
1 x
but 0    1;  0   x  x for x  0
1   1   x   1 x
1 1 x x
 1  x 
1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x
 x
but  log  1  x 
1 x
x
 x  log  1  x   ; x0
1 x