AP Calculus AB/BC

4.2 Mean Value Theorem for Derivatives, p. 196

 Mean Value Theorem for Derivatives

If f (x) is a differentiable function over [a,b], then

at some point between a and b:

f b   f a 
 f c 
b a


 Mean Value Theorem for Derivatives

If f (x) is a differentiable function over [a,b], then

at some point between a and b:

f b   f a 
 f c 
b a

Differentiable implies that the function is also continuous.


 Mean Value Theorem for Derivatives

If f (x) is a differentiable function over [a,b], then

at some point between a and b:

f b   f a 
 f c 
b a

Differentiable implies that the function is also continuous.

The Mean Value Theorem only applies over a closed interval.


 Mean Value Theorem for Derivatives

If f (x) is a differentiable function over [a,b], then

at some point between a and b:

f b   f a 
 f c 
b a

The Mean Value Theorem says that at some point

in the closed interval, the actual slope equals the
average slope.


 y Tangent parallel
to chord.
Slope of tangent:

f c  B

Slope of chord:
f b   f a 
b a
A

x
0 a c b
y  f x  
Example.
1
Let f ( x)  x  , A 0.5, f 0.5  and B 2, f 2 .
x
Write an equation for AB, then find the tangent to f on the
interval  0.5, 2 that is parallel to the secant AB.
The Mean Value Theorem states
there is a tangent line that has the
same slope as the secant line on
[a, b], in this case slope = 0.
a b
The Mean Value Theorem tells us
f 0.5  2.5 f 2  2.5 the number c exists without telling us
how to find it.
 slope of AB = 0

Example (cont.).
1
Let f ( x)  x  , A 0.5, f 0.5  and B 2, f 2 .
x
Write an equation for AB, then find the tangent to f on the
interval  0.5, 2 that is parallel to the secant AB.
1
f  x  1  2 0
x
1 1
1 2 f 1 1  2
x 1
a b
Slope of AB = 0
x 2 1  The tangent is y 2
f 0.5  2.5
x 1
f 2  2.5
But, x = -1 is not in [0.5, 2], so x = 1
 y 2.5 
Example.
A trucker handed in a ticket at a toll booth showing that in two
hours she had covered 159 miles on a toll road with a speed
limit of 65 mph. The trucker was cited for speeding. Why?

159
Avg Speed 
2
= 79.5 mph
By the Mean Value Theorem, which all toll booth attendants
know, she must have gone 79.5 mph at least once in the two
hour time period.


 A couple of somewhat obvious definitions:

A function is increasing over an interval if the derivative

is always positive.

A function is decreasing over an interval if the derivative

is always negative.


Example.
Use analytic methods to find (a) the local extrema, (b) the
intervals on which the function is increasing, (c) the intervals on
which the function is decreasing.
f  x  5 x  x 2 Since f(x) is a parabola that opens down,
(5/2, 25/4) is a maximum.
f  x  5  2 x 0

5 2 x
5
x
2
5 5 
When x  , f  x  decreases on  ,   , and
2
 5  5  5
f   5      2 2 
 2  2  2
25 25 25 5 5
   
2 4 4 when x  , f  x  increases on   ,  .
2  2
 Day 1
 y

These two functions have the

same slope at any value of x.

Functions with the same derivative

differ by a constant.

y g  x  x
0
y  f x  
Example.
Find the function with the given derivative whose graph passes
through the point P.
1
f  x   2 , x  0, P 2, 1
x
Using the Power Rule backwards:
1
f x    C
x
1 1
Substitute the initial condition. So, f  x   
x 2
1
1  C
2
1
C
2

 Example 7, pg. 200

Find the function f  x  whose derivative is sin  x  and

whose graph passes through 0, 2  .

d
cos  x   sin  x   f  x   cos  x   C
dx
2  cos 0   C
d
so:  cos  x  sin  x 
dx
f  x  could be  cos  x  or could vary by some constant C .


 Example 7, pg. 200 (cont.)

Find the function f  x  whose derivative is sin  x  and

whose graph passes through 0, 2  .

d
cos  x   sin  x   f  x   cos  x   C
dx
2  cos 0   C
d
so:  cos  x  sin  x  2  1  C
dx
3 C
Notice that we had to have
initial values to determine f  x   cos  x   3
the value of C.

 The process of finding the original function from the
derivative is so important that it has a name:

Antiderivative

A function F  x  is an antiderivative of a function f  x 

if F  x   f  x  for all x in the domain of f. The process
of finding an antiderivative is antidifferentiation.

You will hear much more about antiderivatives in the future.

This section is just an introduction.


Example.
On the moon, the acceleration due to gravity is 1.6 m/sec2.

(a) If the rock is dropped into a crevasse, how fast will it be

going just before the bottom 30 sec later?

a t  1.6
v t  1.6t  C

Substitute the initial condition.

v 0  0

0 1.6 0   C

v t  1.6t
m
v 30  1.6 30  48
sec 
Example.
On the moon, the acceleration due to gravity is 1.6 m/sec2.

(b) How far below the point of release is the bottom of the
crevasse?
v t  1.6t

s t  0.8t 2  C

Substitute the initial condition.

s 0  0
0 0.8 0   C
2

s t  0.8t 2

s 30  0.8 30 

2
720 m

Example.
On the moon, the acceleration due to gravity is 1.6 m/sec2.
(c) If instead of being released from rest, the rock is thrown into the
crevasse from the same point with a downward velocity of 4 m/sec, when
will it hit the bottom and how fast will it be going when it does?
v 0  4 s t  0.8 t   4t  C
2

v t  1.6t  C s 0  0
Substitute the initial condition. Substitute the initial condition.
0 0.8 0   4 0   C  C 0
2
4 1.6 0   C C 4
s t  0.8 t   4t 720
2
v t  1.6t  4
t 27.604 sec.
v 27.604  1.6 27.604   4
m
48.16
sec 
 Example 8b, pg. 201: Find the velocity and position
equations for a downward acceleration of 9.8 m/sec2
and an initial velocity of 1 m/sec downward.

a t  9.8 (We let down be positive.)

t  
vSince 9.8t  C is the derivative of velocity,
acceleration
velocity must be the antiderivative of acceleration.
1 9.8 0   C
1 C
v t  9.8t  1


 Example 8b, pg. 201: Find the velocity and position
equations for a downward acceleration of 9.8 m/sec2
and an initial velocity of 1 m/sec downward.

a t  9.8 9.8 2
s t   t  t  C
v t  9.8t  C 2

1 9.8 0   C The power rule in reverse:

Increase the exponent by one and
1 C multiply by the reciprocal of the
new exponent.
v t  9.8t  1
Since velocity is the derivative of position,
position must be the antiderivative of velocity. 
 Example 8b, pg. 201: Find the velocity and position
equations for a downward acceleration of 9.8 m/sec2
and an initial velocity of 1 m/sec downward.

a t  9.8 9.8 2
s t   t  t  C
v t  9.8t  C 2
s t  4.9t  t  C
2
1 9.8 0   C
The initial position is zero at time zero.
0 4.9 0   0  C
2
1 C
v t  9.8t  1 0 C
s t  4.9t  t
2

 Day 2