Another Application of Rolle’s Theorem

If functions f and g are continuous for all x in a ≤ x ≤ b,

and differentiable for all x in a < x < b,
define
 h(x) to
equal    
f (x) − f (a) g(b) − g(a) − f (b) − f (a) g(x) − g(a) .

If we let x equal
  a, we see that
 h(a)
 equals  
f (a) − f (a) g(b) − g(a) − f (b) − f (a) g(a) − g(a)
   
= 0 · g(b) − g(a) − f (b) − f (a) · 0 = 0.

If we let x equal
  b, we see that
 h(b)
 equals  
f (b) − f (a) g(b) − g(a) − f (b) − f (a) g(b) − g(a) ,
which also equals 0.
There must be at least one number c between a and b where
   
0 = h0(c) = f 0(c) g(b) − g(a) − f (b) − f (a) g 0(c).

Cauchy Mean Value Theorem

If functions f and g are continuous for all x in a ≤ x ≤ b,
and differentiable for all x in a < x < b,
then, for at least one c in a < x < b, we have
   
f 0(c) g(b) − g(a) = f (b) − f (a) g 0(c)
and, if g 0(x) 6= 0, i.e. if g is increasing or decreasing,
f 0(c) f (b) − f (a)
= .
g 0(c) g(b) − g(a)
Cauchy Mean Value Theorem, Original Version
If functions f and g are continuous for all x in a ≤ x ≤ b,
and differentiable for all x in a < x < b,
then, if g is increasing or decreasing,
f 0(c) f (b) − f (a)
for at least one c in a < x < b we have 0 = .
g (c) g(b) − g(a)

Cauchy Mean Value Theorem, Inequality Version

If functions f and g are continuous for all x in a ≤ x ≤ b,
and differentiable for all x in a < x < b,
and if g is increasing or decreasing,
f 0(x)
then m ≤ 0
≤ M,
g (x)
f (b) − f (a)
implies m ≤ ≤ M.
g(b) − g(a)
 Cauchy Mean Value Theorem, Inequality Version
If functions f and g are continuous for all x in a ≤ x ≤ b,
and differentiable for all x in a < x < b,
and if g is increasing or decreasing,
f 0(x)
then m ≤ 0
≤ M,
g (x)
f (b) − f (a)
implies m ≤ ≤ M.
g(b) − g(a)

A Physical Application:
If car A is going at a speed
which is between 2 and 3 times the speed of car B,
then car A will have traveled
between 2 and 3 times the distance of car B.
The Cauchy Mean Value Theorem can also come directly
out of the Lagrange Mean Value Theorem and the Chain Rule.

If the function y = g(x) is increasing or decreasing,

it has an inverse x = h(y).
The derivative of f (h(y)) equals
0
0 0 0
1 f (x)
f (h(y))h (y) = f (x) 0 = 0 .
g (x) g (x)

If we use the Lagrange MVT on the function f (h(y)),

there is at least one g(c) between y = g(a) and y = g(b)
f 0(c) f (h(g(b))) − f (h(g(a))) f (b) − f (a)
where 0 equals = .
g (c) g(b) − g(a) g(b) − g(a)

The inequality versions connect similarly.

 An Extension of the Cauchy Mean Value Theorem:
If functions f (x) and g(x)
are continuous and piecewise differentiable,
with g increasing or decreasing, for a ≤ x ≤ b,
0
0 0
f (x)
and if f and g satisfy m ≤ 0
≤ M,
g (x)
f (b) − f (a)
then f and g satisfy m ≤ ≤ M..
g(b) − g(a)
A Physical Application:
If car A is going at a speed,
which is between 2 and 3 times the speed of car B,
with shifting,
then car A will have traveled
between 2 and 3 times the distance of car B.
Simplest L’Hospital Theorem:

Assume that f (c) and g(c) both equal 0,

and that f 0(c) and g 0(c) 6= 0 both exist.

f (x) − 0 f (x) − f (c)

f (x) x−c x−c f 0(c)
lim = lim = lim = 0
x→c g(x) x→c g(x) − 0 x→c g(x) − g(c) g (c)
x−c x−c
A More Useful L’Hospital Theorem:

Assume that lim f (x) and limx→c g(x) both equal 0

x→c
f 0(x)
and that lim 0 exists.
x→c g (x)

f (x) f (x) − 0 f (x) − f (y)

 
lim = lim = lim lim
x→c g(x) g(x)
x→c − 0 x→c y→c g(x) − g(y)
0
f (t) f 0(t)
 
= lim lim 0 = lim 0 ,
x→c y→c g (t) t→c g (t)

where t is given by the Cauchy Mean Value theorem,

as lying between x and y, and thus approaching c also.