Rolle’s Theorem

Between two consecutive real

roots a and b of the equation
f(x)=0 where f(x) is a
polynomial, there lies at least
one real root of the equation
f ’(x)=0.
Proof:
Let f(x) be (x-a)m (x-b)n (x)
Where m and n re positive
integers and (x) is not divisible
by (x-a) or (x-b). Since a and b
are consecutive real roots of
f(x), the sign of (x) in the
interval a≤x≤b is either positive
throughout or negative
throughout, for if it changes its
sign between a and b, then there
is a root of (x)=0 that is f(x)=0
lying between a and b, which
iss contrary to the hypothesis
that a and b are consecutive
roots.
Therefore f ’(x)=(x-a)m n (x-b)n-
1
(x)+ m(x-a)m-1 (x-b)n (x)+
(x-a)m(x-b)n ’(x)
=(x-a) m-1
(x-b) n-1
(x).
Where (x)={m(x-b)+n(x-a)}
(x)+(x-a)(x-b) ’(x)
Therefore (a)=m (a-b) (a)
and (b)=n (b-a) (b)
(a) and (b) have different
signs since (a) and (b) have
the same sign.
Therefore (x)=0 has atleast
one root between a and b.
Hence f’(x)=0 has at least one
root between a and b.
Example:1
Find the nature of the roots of
the equation 4x3-
21x2+18x+20=0.
Solution:
Let f(x)= 4x3-21 x2+18x+20
Therefore, f ’(x)=12 x 2-42x+18
=6(2x 2-7x+3)
=6(2x 2-6x-x+3)
=6(2x(x-3)-1(x-3))
=6(2x-1) (x-3)
To find the roots of f’(x)=0
2x-1=0 and x-3=0
x=1/2 and x=3
Therefore the real roots of
f’(x)=0 are ½ and 3.

x: - ½ 3 
f(x): - + - +

x : - ½ 3 
f(x): - + - +
Here, the number of changes of
sign is 3. Hence f(x)=0 has
three real roots.

Example:2
Show that the equation 3x4-8x3-
6x2+24x-7=0 has one positive,
one negative and two imaginary
roots.
Solution:
4 3 2
Let f(x)= 3x -8x -6x +24x-7
Therefore f’(x)=12x3-24x2-
12x+24
=12(x3-2x2-x+2)
=12(x2(x-2)-1(x-2))
=12(x2-1) (x-2)
Therefore the roots of the
equation f ’(x)=0 are 1,1,2.
x : - -1 1 2 
f(x): + - + + +
Therefore f(x)=0 has a real root
lying between -1 and -, one
between -1 and +1 and it has
two imaginary roots.
Also, f(1)=6= + and f(0)=-7= -
Therefore the real root lying
between -1 and +1 lies between
0 and +1. Hence it is a positive
root. The other root lies
between -1 and - and it is a
negative root.
Exa:mple:3
Discuss the reality of the roots,
x4+4x3-2x2-12x+a=0 for all real
values of a.
Solution:
Let f(x)= x4+4x3-2x2-12x+a
Therefore f ’(x)=4x3+12x2-4x-
12
=4(x3+3x2-x-3)
=4(x2(x+3)-1(x+3))
2
=4(x -1) (x+3)
Therefore the roots of f’(x)=0
are 1,1,-3.

x: - -3 -1 1 
f(x) + a-9 7+a a-9 +

x : -1 1
f(x): + a-9 7+a a-9 +
If a-9 is negative and 7+a is
positive, the number of changes
of sign in f(x) is four. Clearly,
all the four roots of f(x) are real.
If -7<a<9, f(x)=0 has four real
roots. For, if we take a=8 then
the number of changes of sign
in f(x) is 4.
If a>9 then f(x) is positive
throughout and hence all the
roots f(x)=0 are imaginary. For,
if we take a=10 then there is no
change of sign in f(x).
If a< -7, the signs of f(x) at -,-
3,-1,1, are respectively +,-,-,-
,+. For, if we take a=-8 then the
number of changes of sign is 2.
Hence f(x)=0 has two real roots
and two imaginary roots.