CHAPTER 11

Rolle's Theorem,
the Mean Value Theorem,
and the Sign of the Derivative

11.1 State Rolle's theorem.

f If / is continuous over a closed interval [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval (a, b), and if
/(a) = f(b) = 0, then there is at least one number c in (a, b) such that f ' ( c ) = 0.
In Problems 11.2 to 11.9, determine whether the hypotheses of Rolle's theorem hold for the function/on the
given interval, and, if they do, verify the conclusion of the theorem.
11.2 f(x) = x2 - 2x - 3 on [-1,3].
I f(x) is clearly differentiable everywhere, and /(-I) =/(3) = 0. Hence, Rolle's theorem applies. /'(*) =
2x-2. Setting /'(*) = °> we obtain x = l. Thus, /'(1) = 0 and -KK3.

11.3 /(*) = x" - x on [0,1].

I f(x) is differentiable, with /'(*) = 3*2 -1. Also, /(0)=/(1) = 0. Thus, Rolle's theorem applies.
Setting /'(*) = 0, 3x2 = 1, x2 = 5, x = ±V5/3. The positive solution x = V5/3 lies between 0 and 1.

11.4 f(x) = 9x3-4x on [-§,§].

I f ' ( x ) = 27x2-4 and /(-§ )=/(§) = 0. Hence, Rolle's theorem is applicable. Setting f ' ( x ) = 0,
27x2 = 4, x2=£, * = ±2/3V3 = ±2V3/9. Both of these values lie in [-§, |], since 2V5/9<§.

11.5 /(*) = *3 - 3*2 + * + 1 on[l, 1 + V2].

I /'(*) = 3x2 - 6^ + 1 and /(I) =/(! + V2) = 0. This means that Rolle's theorem applies. Setting
f ' ( x ) = 0 and using the quadratic formula, we obtain x = l±^V6 and observe that 1< 1 + jV~6< 1 + V2.

11.6 on [-2,3].

There is a discontinuity at * = !, since lim f(x) does not exist. Hence, Rolle's theorem does not apply.
X—»1

if x ¥= 1 and x is in [—2, 3]
11.7
if x = \
3
Notice that x -2x -5x + 6 = (x - l)(x - x -6). Hence, f(x) = x2 - x - 6 if x¥=l and x is in
2 2

[-2,3]. But /(*) = -6 = x2 - x - 6 when x = l. So f(x) = x2-x-6 throughout the interval [-2, 3].
Also, note that /(-2) =/(3) = 0. Hence, Rolle's theorem applies. f ' ( x ) = 2x-l. Setting f ' ( x ) = 0, we
obtain x = 5 which lies between —2 and 3.

11.8 f(x) = x2/3~2x1':> on [0,8].

f(x) is differentiable within (0,8), but not at 0. However, it is continuous at x = 0 and, therefore,
throughout [0,8]. Also, /(0)=/(8) = 0. Hence, Rolle's theorem applies. /'(*) = 2/3v^-2/3(vT)2.
Setting f ' ( x ) = 0, we obtain x = 1, which is between 0 and 8.

11.9 if
if
f(x) is not differentiable at * = 1. (To see this, note that, when Ax<0, [/(! + Ax) - 1]/A* = 2 +
Ax-*2 as Ax-»0. But, when A*>0, [/(I + A*) - 1]/A* = -l-» -1 as Ax-»0.) Thus, Rolle's
theorem does not apply.

69
70 CHAPTER 11

11.10 State the mean value theorem.

If fix) is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval (a, b), then there is a
number c in (a, b) such that

In Problems 11.11 to 11.16, determine whether the hypotheses of the mean value theorem hold for the function
f(x) on the given interval, and, if they do, find a value c satisfying the conclusion of the theorem.

11.11 f(x) = 2x + 3 on [1,4].

f ' ( x ) = 2. Hence, the mean value theorem applies. Note that Thus, we can
take c to be any point in (1,4).

11.12 f(x) = 3x2 - 5x + 1 on [2, 5].

/'(*) = 6*— 5, and the mean value theorem applies. Setting we

find which lies between 2 and 5.

11.13 f(x) = x3'4 on [0,16].

/(*) is continuous for x>0 and differentiable for x>0. Thus, the mean value theorem is applicable.
Setting we find which lies between 0 and 16.

11.14 on

Since is differentiable and nonzero on [1,3], f(x) is differentiable on [1,3].

Setting we obtain
The value lies between 1 and 3.

11.15 on
f(x) is differentiable on since on that interval. Setting

we obtain
Both of these values lie in [-3,4].

11.16 on

Since x-4 is differentiable and nonzero on [0, 2], so is/(*). Setting

we obtain The value
lies between 0 and 2.

11.17 Prove that, if f'(x)>0 for all x in the open interval (a, b), then f(x) is an increasing function on (a, b).
Assume a<u<v<b. Then the mean value theorem applies to f(x) on the closed interval (u, v). So, for
some c between u and v, f'(c) = [f(v) - /(«)] /(v - u). Hence, f(v) - /(«) = f'(c)(v - u). Since u<v,
v-u>0. By hypothesis, /'(c)>0. Hence, f(v) -/(«)>0, and /(u) >/(«). Thus,/(A:) is increasing
in (a, ft).
In Problems 11.18 to 11.26, determine where the function/is increasing and where it is decreasing.
11.18 f(x) = 3x + l.
f ' ( x ) = 3. Hence, f(x) is increasing everywhere.
 ROLLE'STHEOREM, THE MEAN VALUE THEOREM, AND THE SIGN OFTHE DERIVATIVE 71

11.19 f(x) = -2x + 1.

I f ' ( x ) = —2 <0. Hence, f(x) is always decreasing.

11.20 f(x) = x2-4x + 7.

I f ' ( x ) = 2x-4. Since 2x-4>Q**x>2, f(x) is increasing when x>2. Similarly, since 2x-4<
0 <-» * < 2, f(x) is decreasing when x<2.

11.21 f(x) = 1 - 4x - x2.

1 f'(x)=-4-2x. Since -4- 2x>Q++x< -2, f(x) is increasing when x<-2. Similarly, f(x) is de-
creasing when x > —2.

11.22 /(*) = Vl - x2.

f(x) is denned only for -1<*<1. Now, f'(x) = -xNl - x2. So, f(x) >Q**x <0. Thus, /(*) is
increasing when -1< x < 0. Similarly, f(x) is decreasing when 0 < x < 1.

11.23

I f(x) is defined only when - 3 < x < 3 . f'(x)= \(-x)N 9 - x2. So, /'(*)> 0«-»*<0. Thus, f(x) is
increasing when — 3 < ; t < 0 and decreasing when 0 < A c < 3 .

11.24 f(x) = x3- 9x2 + 15x - 3.

I f ' ( x ) = 3x2-l8x + 15 = 3(x-5)(x- 1). The key points are x = l and * = 5. f'(x)>Q when jc>5,
/'(AC)<O for Kx<5, and /'(AC)>O when x<l. Thus, /(*) is increasing when x<\ or x>5,
and it is decreasing when 1 < x < 5.

11.25 f(x) = x + l/x.

I f(x) is denned for x^O. f ' ( x ) = \-(\lx2). Hence, /'(*)<O-H>!< l/x\ which is equivalent to x2 <l.
Hence, f(x) is decreasing when — 1 < A C < 0 or 0<x<l, and it is increasing when A C > ! or A C < — 1 .

11.26 f(x) = x3- \2x + 20.

I f ' ( x ) = 3x2 — l2 = 3(x — 2)(x + 2). The key points are x = 2 and x = —2. For Ac>2, f'(x)>0; for
-2<Ac<2, f'(x)<0; for jc<-2, f'(x)>Q. Hence, f(x) is increasing when x>2 or x<-2, and it
is decreasing for -2 < x < 2.

11.27 Let f(x) be a differentiable function such that f'(x)^0 for all AC in the open interval (a, b). Prove that there is
at most one zero of f(x) in (a, b).
I Assume that there exist two zeros u and v off(x) in (a, b) with u<v. Then Rolle's theorem applies to /(AC)
in the closed interval [u, v]. Hence, there exists a number c in (u, v) such that f ' ( c ) = 0. Since a<c<b,
this contradicts the assumption that f'(x)^0 for all x in (a, b).

11.28 Consider the polynomial f(x) = 5x3 - 2x2 + 3x-4. Prove that f(x) has a zero between 0 and 1 that is the only
zero of/(AC).
I /(0)=-4<0, and /(1) = 2>0. Hence, by the intermediate value theorem, f(x) = 0 for some x between
0 and 1. /'(*) = 15AC2 - 4AC -I- 3. By the quadratic formula, we see that/'(*) has no real roots and is, therefore,
always positive. Hence, f(x) is an increasing function and, thus, can take on the value 0 at most once.

11.29 Let/(AC) and g(x) be differentiable functions such that /(a)sg(a) and f'(x)> g'(x) for all x. Show that
f(x) > g(x) for all x > a.
1 The function h(x) = f(x) - g(x) is differentiable, /*(«)>0, and h'(x)>0 for all x. By the latter
condition, h(x) is increasing, and, therefore, since /i(«)>0, h(x)>0 for all AC > a. Thus, /M>g(Ac)
for all AC > a.
72 CHAPTER 11

11.30 The mean value theorem ensures the existence of a certain point on the graph of between (27,3) and
(125, 5). Find the ^-coordinate of the point.
By the mean value theorem, there is a number c between 27 and 125 such that
So,

11.31 Show that g(*) = Bx3 - 6x2 - 2x + 1 has a zero between 0 and 1.
Notice that the intermediate value theorem does not help, since g(0) = 1 and g(l) = l. Let f(x) =
2x4 -2x3-x2 + x and note that /'(*) = g(x). Since /(O) = /(I) = 0, Rolle's theorem applies to /(*) on
the interval [0,1]. Hence, there must exist c between 0 and 1 such that f ' ( c ) = 0. Then g(c) = 0.
11.32 Show that x + 2x - 5 = 0 has exactly one real root.
Let f(x) = x3 + 2x - 5. Since /(0)=-5<0 and /(2)=7>0, the intermediate value theorem tells us
that there is a root of f(x) = 0 between 0 and 2. Since f ' ( x ) = 3x2 + 2 > 0 for all x, f(x) is an increasing
function and, therefore, can assume the value 0 at most once. Hence, f(x) assumes the value 0 exactly once.

11.33 Suppose that f(x) is differentiable every where, that /(2) =-3, and that !</'(*)< 2 if 2<x<5. Show
that 0</(5)<3.

By the mean value theorem, there exists a c between 2 and 5 such that So,
/(5) + 3 = 3/'(c) Since 2 < c < 5 , K/'(c)<2, 3<3/'(c)<6, 3</(5) + 3<6, and 0</(5)<3

11.34 Use the mean value theorem to prove that tan x > x for 0 < x < Tr/2.
The mean value theorem applies to tan* on the interval [0, x]. Hence, there exists c between 0 and x
such that sec2 c = (tan* - tanO)/(*-0) = tan*/*. [Recall that Dx(tan *) = sec2 *.] Since 0 < c < 7 r / 2 ,
0 < cos c < 1, sec c > 1, sec2 c > 1. Thus, tan xlx > 1, and, therefore, tan x> x.

11.35 If f ' ( x ) = 0 throughout an interval [a, b], prove that /(*) is constant on that interval.
Let « < * < f c . The mean value theorem applies to/(*) on the interval [«,*]. Hence, there exists a c
between a and * such that Since f ' ( c ) = 0, /(*)=/(«). Hence,/(*) has the value/(a)
throughout the interval.

11.36 If f'(x) = g'(x) for all x in an interval [a, b], show that there is a constant K such that f(x) = g(x) + K for
all x in [a, b].
Let h(x)=f(x)-g(x). Then h'(x) = 0 for all x in [a, £>]. By Problem 11.35, there is a constant K such
that h(x) = K for all x in [a, b]. Hence, /(x) = g(x) + K for all x in [a, 6].

11.37 Prove that x3 + px + q = 0 has exactly one real root if p>0.

Let f(x) = x3 + px + q. Then /'(*) = 3*2 + p > 0. Hence, f(x) is an increasing function. So f(x) as-
sumes the value 0 at most once. Now, lim f(x) = +°° and lim f(x) = —». Hence, there are numbers «
and i> where /(w) > 0 and f(v) < 0. By the intermediate value theorem, f(x) assumes the value 0 for some
number between u and v. Thus, f(x) has exactly one real root.

11.38 Prove the following generalized mean value theorem: If f(x) and g(x) are continuous on [a, b], and if fix) and
g(x) are differentiable on (a, b) with g'(x) ^ 0, then there exists a c in (a, b) such that

g(°) * g(b)- [Otherwise, if g(a) = g(b) = K, then Rolle's theorem applied to g(x) - K would yield a
number between a and b at which g'(x) = 0, contrary to our hypothesis.] Let and set
F
(X) = f(x) ~ f(b> ~ L[g(x) ~ g(b)\. It is easy to see that Rolle's theorem applies to F(x). Therefore, there is a
number c between a and b for which F'(c) = 0. Then, /'(c) — Lg'(c) = 0, and
 ROLLE'S THEOREM, THE MEAN VALUE THEOREM, AND THE SIGN OF THE DERIVATIVE 73

11.39 Use the generalized mean value theorem to show that

f Let f(x) = sinx and g(x) = x. Since e'(x) = l, the generalized mean value theorem applies to the
interval [0, x] when x>0. Hence, there is a number c such that 0 < c < x for which
As and Hence, Since
we also have Hence,

11.40 Show that |sin u — sin v\ s |« — u|.

By the mean value theorem, there exists a c between u and v for which Since

11.41 Apply the mean value theorem to the following functions on the interval [-1,8]. (a) f(x) = x4'3 (b)
g(x) = x2'\
By the mean value theorem, there is a number c between -1 and 8 such that
Hence, (b) The mean value theorem is not applic-
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able because g'(*) does not exist at x = 0.

11.42 Show that the equation 3 tan x + x* = 2 has exactly one solution in the interval [0, ir/4].
Let f(x) = 3 tan x + x3. Then /'(*) = 3 sec" x + 3x~ > 0, and, therefore, f(x) is an increasing function.
Thus, f(x) assumes the value 2 at most once. But, /(0) = 0 and /(Tr/4) = 3 + (ir/4)3 >2. So, by the
intermediate value theorem, f(c) = 2 for some c between 0 and rr/4. Hence, f(x) = 2 for exactly one x in
[0, 7T/4].

11.43 Give an example of a function that is continuous on [ —1. 1] and for which the conclusion of the mean value
theorem does not hold.

Let f(X) = \x\. Then However, there is no number c in (-1,1) for which
f ' ( c ) = 0, since /'(*) = 1 for x>0 and /'(.v)=-l for x<0. Of course,/'(O) does not exist, which
is the reason that the mean value theorem does not apply.

11.44 Find a point on the graph of y = x2+x + 3, between .v = 1 and x = 2, where the tangent line is parallel
to the line connecting (1,5) and (2,9).
This is essentially an application of the mean value theorem to f(x) = x~ + x + 3 on the interval [1, 21.
The slope of the line connecting (1,5) and (2,9) is For that line to be parallel
to the tangent line at a point (c, /(c)), the slope of the tangent line, f ' ( c ) , must be equal to 4. But, /'(•*) =
2x + 1. Hence, we must have 2c + l = 4, c = § . Hence, the point is (|, ").

11.45 For a function f(x) = Ax2 + Bx + C, with A 7^0, on an interval [a, b], find the number in (a, b) determined
by the mean value theorem.

f ' ( x ) = 2Ax + B. On the other hand,

Hence, we must find c such that 2Ac + B = A(b + a) + B. Then c = \(b + a). Thus, the point is the
midpoint of the interval.

11.46 If/is a differentiable function such that lim /'(.v) = 0, prove that lim [f(x + 1) -/(*)] = 0.

By the mean value theorem, there exists a c with x<c<x + l such that f(x+1) -/(*) =
f'(c). As *-»+=», c-»+°°. Hence,/'(c) approaches 0, since lim f ' ( x ) = 0. Therefore, lim [f(x +
l)-/(jc)] = 0.
74 CHAPTER 11

11.47 Prove that the zeros of sin x and cos x separate each other; that is, between any two zeros of sin x, there is a zero of
cos x, and vice versa.
Assume sina = 0 and sin 6 = 0 with a<b. By Rolle's theorem, there exists a c with a<c<b
such that cosc = 0, since DA.(sin x) = cos x. Similarly, if coso = c o s f e = 0 with a<b, then there ex-
ists a c with a<c<b such that sinc = 0, since D,,(cosjr) = — sin x.

11.48 An important function in calculus (the exponential function) may be defined by the conditions
/'(*) = /« (~°° <*<+*) and /(0)=1 (1)
Show that this function is (a) strictly positive, and (b) strictly increasing.
(a) Let h(x) =f(x)f(-x); then, using the product rule, the chain rule, and (/), h'(x)=f'(x)f(-x) +
f(x)f'(-x)(-l)=f(x)f(-x)-f(x)f(-x) = 0. So by Problem 11.35, h(x) = const. = h(0) = 1-1 = 1; that is,
for all x,
/«/(-*) = ! (2)
By (2), f(x) is never zero. Furthermore, the continuous (because it is differentiable) function/(x) can never be
negative; for f(a) < 0 and /(O) = 1 > 0 would imply an intermediate zero value, which we have just seen to
be impossible. Hence f(x) is strictly positive. (b) /'(*) =/(*) >0; so (Problem 11.17), f(x) is strictly
increasing.

11.49 Give an example of a continuous function f(x) on fO, 11 for which the conclusion of Rolle's theorem fails.
Let f(x)={-\x-{\ (see Fig. 11-1). Then /(O) =/(!) = 0, but f ' ( x ) is not 0 for any x in (0,1).
/'(*) = ±1 for all A: in (0,1), except at jc = { , where f ' ( x ) is not defined.

Fig. 11-1