MAT101- Engineering Mathematics-I

Differential Calculus-4
 Rolle’s Theorem
Statement:
Consider a function f(x) such that,
(i) it is continuous in the closed interval [a, b],
(ii) f (x) exists for every value of x in the open interval (a, b) and
(iii) f(a)= f(b),
then there exists at least one value ‘c’ of x in the open interval (a, b) such that f (c)=0

Geometrical interpretation of Rolle’s theorem

y
C2 C4
C

C1 C3

A B

O (a, 0) (c, 0) (b, 0) x

Consider the portion AB of the curve y  f ( x) lying between x  a and x  b such that
f ( x ) is continuous from A to B and has a tangent at every point between A and B and
ordinate of A= ordinate of B.

From the figure it is clear that there is atleast one point on the curve with
abscissa x=c , a  c  b of the curve, where the tangent is parallel to the X-axis.

Slope of the tangent at C(x=c) = 0. But slope of the tangent at C is the value of
the differential coefficient of f ( x ) w.r.t.x
 f '(c)  0 .

Note: Every polynomial is a continuous function of x for every value of x.

If f(x) and g(x) are continuous functions of x in [a,b], then f(x)±g(x) and f(x).g(x) are also continuous in [a,b]
f(x)/g(x) is also continuous in [a,b], provided g(x)≠0 for all x[a,b]
sin(x), cos(x), ex are continuous functions of x,
log(x) is continuous function for all x>0

1. Can Rolle’s Theorem be applied to the following functions? Explain.

(a) tan(x) in [0, ]
Ans:

f ( x)  tan x is discontinuous at x   [0,  ]
2
Page1 Jyothi Lakshmi S
  Rolle’s Theorem can not be applied to tan(x) in [0, ]

(b) sec(x) in [0, 2]

Ans:
   3 
We know that sec     and sec  .
2  2 
 3
 sec(x) is discontinous in the given interval [0, 2] as and  [0, 2 ]
2 2
 Rolle’s Theorem can not be applied to sec(x) in [0, 2]
2   x  1
2
3
(c) in [0, 2]
Ans:

Let f(x)= 2   x  1
2
3

Clearly f(x) is continuous in [0,2]

2 1
2 2
 x  1 3   x  1 3
1
f ( x) 
3 3
2
 1
3  x  1 3

Clearly f ' ( x) =

 f ' ( x) does not exist for all x(0,2) as 1(0, 2)

Rolle’s Theorem can not be applied to 2   x  1

2
3
in [0, 2]

2. Verify Rolle’ s theorem for the following functions:

(a) x2-5x+8 in [1,4]

Ans:
Let f(x) = x2-5x+8
 f(x) is continuous in [1,4] {since all the polynomial functions are continuous functions}

f ' ( x)  2 x  5 exist in(1,4)

f(1)= 1 – 5 + 8 = 4
f(4)= 16 – 20 + 8 = 4
f(1) = f(4)
Since f(x) satisfies all the conditions of Rolle’s Theorem, there exist atleast one value c of x  (1, 4)
f ' (c )  0
Such that 5
2 x  5  0  x   (1, 4)
2
Hence Rolle’s theorem is verified

(b) e x sin x in [0, ]

Ans:

x
Let f ( x)  e sin x

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Since e  x and sin(x) are continuous functions in any interval, their product e x sin x is also continuous in any
interval

 f ( x)  e x sin x is continuous in [0, ]

sin x
f  x   e  x sin(x) 
ex
e x cos( x)  sin( x) e x
 f ' ( x) 
e2 x
e x  cos( x)  sin( x) 

e2 x
cos( x)  sin( x)

ex

Since e x  0 for any finite value of x , f(x) exist for all x(0, )

Also f(0)= 0 and f()=0

Thus f(x) satisfies all the three conditions of Rolle’s Theorem

there exist atleast one value c of x  (0,  ) Such that

f ' (c )  0

f c  0
cos(c)  sin(c)
 0
ec
 cos(c)  sin(c)  0
 cos(c)  sin(c)
sin(c)
 1
cos(c)
 tan(c)  1

 c  tan 1 (1) 
4
  
clearly  (0,  ) such that f     0
4 4
Hence Rolle’s Theorem is verified

 x 2  ab 
(c) log   in [a, b] where a>0
  a  b  x 
Ans:
 x 2  ab 
Let f ( x)  log    log  x  ab   log  a  b  x 
2

a  b x 
 log  x 2  ab   log  a  b   log  x 
Since x>0, f(x) is continuous in [a, b]

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 1 2 x   x  ab 
2 2
2x x 2  ab
f ( x)  2 0  
x  ab x x  x 2  ab  x  x 2  ab 
Since x>0 , a>0 and b>0, f(x) exist for all x(a,b)
 a 2  ab 
f (a)  log    log(1)  0
 a  b a 
 b 2  ab 
f (b)  log    log(1)  0
a  b b 
f(a)=f(b)
f(x) satisfies all the three conditions of Rolle’s Theorem
there exist atleast one value c of x  (a, b) Such that
f ' (c )  0
f c  0
c 2  ab

c  c 2  ab 
 c 2  ab  0  c 2  ab  c  ab
Clearly ab (a,b) such that f   
ab  0
Hence Rolle’s Theorem is verified
x

(d) x  x  3 e 2
in [3, 0]
Ans:
x
Let f ( x)  x  x  3 e 2
x
  x 2  3x  e 2
x x
S in ce  x 2  3x  and e are continuous their product  x 2  3x  e 2 is also continuous

2

f(x) is continuous in [-3,0]

f ( x)   x  3x  e
2
x
2
1
x x 
  e  2 x  3  e 2 x  3 
2 2 
 x 2  3x  

2  2 
x
x x
 4 x  6  x  3x 
2
x6 x  e
2 2
e 2
 e
2
   6  x  x 2 
 2   2  2
x
S in ce e and 6  x  x 2  exist for all x  (3, 0), their product also exists for all x  (3, 0)
2

f(x) exists for all x(-3,0)

Also f(-3) = 0 and f(0) = 0
f(-3) = f(0)
f(x) satisfies all the three conditions of Rolle’s Theorem
there exist atleast one value c of x  (3, 0) Such that
f ' (c )  0

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 c
e2
f (c)  0  6  c  c 2   0
2
 2c 
 6cc  0
2
 e 0 
 
 c  c  6  0  (c  3)(c  2)  0
2

 c  3 or c  2
Clearly –2 (-3, 0) such that f(-2)=0
Hence Rolle’s Theorem is verified

(e) (x-a)m (x-b)n in [a, b]

Ans:
Let f(x)= (x-a)m (x-b)n
Since (x-a)m and (x-b)n are continuous functions their product (x-a)m (x-b)n is also continuous in [a, b]
f(x) = (x-a)m n (x-b)n-1 +(x-b)n m (x-a)m-1
=(x-a)m-1 (x-b)n-1[n(x-a)+m(x-b)]
=(x-a)m-1 (x-b)n-1[nx-na+mx-mb)]
=(x-a)m-1 (x-b)n-1[(m+n)x – (na+mb)]
Clearly f(x) exists for all x(a, b)
Also f(a)=0 and f(b)=0
f(a) = f(b)
f(x) satisfies all the three conditions of Rolle’s Theorem
there exist atleast one value c of x  (a, b) Such that
f ' (c )  0

f(c)=0
(c-a)m-1 (c-b)n-1[(m+n)c – (na+mb)] =0
c-a = 0 or c-b = 0 or (m+n)c – (na+mb)]
na  mb
c= a, or c= b or c 
mn
na  mb  na  mb 
Clearly  ( a, b) such that f   0
mn  mn 
Hence Rolle’s Theorem is verified.

 Lagrange’s Mean Value Theorem

Statement:
Consider a function f(x) such that,
(i) it is continuous in the closed interval [a, b],
(ii) f (x) exists for every value of x in the open interval (a, b)
then there exists at least one value ‘c’ of x in the open interval (a, b) such that
f (b)  f (a )
f  c 
ba
Proof:
Let f(x) be continuous in the closed interval [a, b] and f (x) exists for every value of x in
the open interval (a, b)
 f (b)  f (a) 
Consider the function  ( x)  f ( x)    x
 ba

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 f (b)  f (a )
Then  ( x)  f ( x) 
ba
Since f(x) is continuous in the closed interval [a, b], (x) is continuous in the closed
interval [a, b]
Since f (x) exists for every value of x in the open interval (a, b), (x) exists for every
value of x in the open interval (a, b)
bf (a)  af (b) bf (a)  af (b)
Also,  (a )  and  (b) 
ba ba
(a)= (b)
Thus (x) satisfies all the conditions of Lagrange’s mean value theorem
Therefore there exists at least one value ‘c’ of x in the open interval (a, b) such that 
(c)=0
f (b)  f (a )
 (c)  0  f (c)  0
ba
f (b)  f (a )
 f (c) 
ba
Geometrical interpretation
C4

y
C3 B
C1

C2

O (a, 0) (c, 0) (b, 0) x

Let A, B be the points on the curve y  f ( x) corresponding to x  a and x  b So that the

coordinates of A and B are  a, f (a)  and  b, f (b)  respectively.
Consider the portion AB of the curve y  f ( x) lying between x  a and x  b such that
f ( x ) is continuous from A to B and has tangent at every point between
A and B . From figure it is clear that
f (b)  f (a )
slope of the chord AB 
ba
but f '(c) is the slope of the tan gent to the curve at the po int C
whose abscissa is x  c
f (b)  f (a )
 f (c) 
ba

Thus the geometrical interpretation of Lagrange’s mean value theorem is that, if at all points of
the curve AB there is a tangent line , then there is atleast one point C on the curve between A
and B at which the tangent is parallel to the chord AB

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 1) Verify Lagrange’s Mean Value theorem for the following functions:

(a) x 2  4 in [2, 4]
Ans:
f ( x)  x 2  4 where a  2 and b  4
Since x>2, x2-4>0(positive)
f(x) is continuous in [2, 4]
1 x
f ( x)   2x 
2 x2  4 x2  4
Clearly f(x) exists for all x(2, 4)

then there exists at least one value ‘c’ of x in the open interval (2, 4) such that
f (b)  f (a )
f  c 
ba

f(2)=0 and f (4)  12

f (4)  f (2) 12  0
   3
42 2
 f (4)  f (2) 
Let f (c)  3   3
 42 
c
ie.  3
c 4
2

 c  3 x2  4
 c2  3 x2  4
 2c 2  12  c 2  6  c   6
f (4)  f (2)
Clearly 6  (2, 4) such that f   6  42
Hence Mean Value theorem is verified.

(b) x3 – 5x2 – 3x in [1,3]

Ans:
Let f(x) = x3 – 5x2 – 3x where a =1 and b = 3
Clearly f(x) is continuous in [1, 3]
f(x)=3x2 – 10x – 3
Clearly f(x) exists for all x(1,3)

then there exists at least one value ‘c’ of x in the open interval (1, 3) such that
f (b)  f (a )
f  c 
ba

f(1)= – 7 and f(3) = – 27

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 f (3)  f (1) 27  7
   10
3 1 2
 f (3)  f (1) 
Let f (c)  10   10 
 3 1 
ie. 3c 2  10c  3  10
 3c 2  10c  7  0
 3c 2  3c  7c  7  0
 3c(c  1)  7(c  1)  0
  c  1 3c  7   0
7
 x  1 or x 
3
7  7  f (3)  f (1)
Clearly  (1,3) such that f    
3 3 3 1
Hence Lagrange’s Mean Value theorem is verified

Cauchy’s Mean Value Theorem

Statement:
If f(x) and g(x) are two functions such that,
(i) both are continuous in the closed interval [a, b],
(ii) f (x) and g (x) exist for every value of x in the open interval (a, b)
(iii) g (x) ≠0 for all x(a, b)
then there exists at least one value ‘c’ of x in the open interval (a, b) such that
f   c  f (b)  f (a)

g  c  g (b)  g (a)
Proof:
Let f(x) and g(x) are two functions such that both are continuous in the closed interval [a,
b], f (x) and g(x) exist for every value of x in the open interval (a, b) and g (x) ≠0 for all
x (a, b)
 f (b)  f (a ) 
Consider the function  ( x)  f ( x)    g ( x)
 g (b)  g (a ) 
 f (b)  f (a) 
 ( x)  f ( x)    g ( x)
 g (b)  g (a ) 

Since f(x) and g(x) are continuous in the closed interval [a, b] (x) is continuous in the
closed interval [a, b]
Since f (x) and g (x) exist for every value of x in the open interval (a, b), (x) exists for
every value of x in the open interval (a, b)
Clearly (a) = (b)

Thus (x) satisfies all the three conditions of Rolle’s Theorem

Therefore there exists at least one value ‘c’ of x in the open interval (a, b) such that  (c)
=0

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 f (b)  f (a)
(ie) f (c)  g (c)  0
g (b)  g (a)
f (b)  f (a)
 f (c)  g (c)
g (b)  g (a)
f (c) f (b)  f (a)
 
g (c) g (b)  g (a )

1 . Verify Cauchy’s Mean Value theorem for the following functions:

(a) sin (x) and cos(x) in [a, b]

Let f(x) = sin(x) and (x)= cos(x)
f(x) = cos(x) and (x) = - sin(x)
Clearly f(x) and (x) are continuous in [a, b]
Also f(x) and (x) exist for all x(a, b)

f (b)  f (a ) f (c)
By Cauchy’s mean value theorem  , where c  (a, b)
 (b)   (a)  (c)
f (b)  f (a ) f (c)

 (b)   (a)  (c)
sin b  sin a cos c
 
cos b  cos a  sin c
ba ba
2 cos   sin  
  2   2 
  cot(c)
ba ba
2sin   sin  
 2   2 
ba
  cot    cot (c)
 2 
ba
c
2
ba
clearly c   (a, b)
2
Hence Cauchy’s mean value theorem is verified.

(c) ex and e-x in [a, b]

Let f(x) = ex and (x)= e-x
f(x) = ex and (x) = - e-x
Clearly f(x) and (x) are continuous in [a, b]
Also f(x) and (x) exist for all x(a, b)

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 f (b)  f (a ) f (c)
By Cauchy’s mean value theorem  , where c  ( a, b)
 (b)   (a)  (c)
f (b)  f (a ) f (c) eb  e a ec eb  e a
     e 2 c
 (b)   (a)  (c) b
e e a
e c
1

1
eb e a
eb  e a eb  e a   e a  eb  a b
  e 2 c  a b e a eb  e 2 c  e e  e 2 c
e e
a b
e e e e
a b

e a eb
 e a eb  e 2 c  e a  b  e 2 c
ba
 a  b  2c  c 
2
ba
clearly c   (a, b)
2
Hence Cauchy’s mean value theorem is verified.
1) Discuss the applicability of mean value theorem to the function f ( x)  x in the interval (-1,1)
Solution:
f ( x)  x
 x for 0  x  1
  x for  1  x  0
The mean value theorem is applicable if the given function is continuous in the closed interval and also
to those functions of x in a given interval which possess a differential coefficient for every value of x in
that interval. So we have to find
(i) Continuity at x=0:
RHL  lim f ( x)  lim x  0
x0 x0
LHL  lim f ( x)  lim   x   0
x0 x0
lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)
x0 x0
Also f (0)  0  f ( x) is continous at x  0
 f ( x) is continous in [1,1]
(ii) the differential coefficient of f ( x)  x at x=0which is a point in the interval (-1,1).

f (0  h)  f (0) 0h  0 h
lim  lim  lim  1
h0 h h0 h h0 h
f (0  h)  f (0) 0h  0 h
lim  lim  lim  1
h0 h h0 h h0  h
f (0  h)  f (0) f (0  h)  f (0)
lim  lim
h0 h h0 h
differential coefficient of f ( x)  x at x=0 does not exist. Hence the mean value theorem is not

applicable to f ( x)  x in the interval (-1,1).

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 2) Find C of Cauchy’s mean value theorem , given f ( x)  x 2  2 x  3,  ( x)  x 2  4 x  6 , 0  x  1 .
1
Ans:
2
3) Verify mean value theorem for the function f ( x)  x3  6 x in [1,3]
Ans: 2.08

Page11 Jyothi Lakshmi S