United Arab Emirates

Ministry of Education
Sharjah Education Authority
Beaconhouse AL KHALEEJ School

AP Calculus AB
 Using the Mean Value Theorem

Learning Objective
Students will be able to
 Justify conclusions about functions by applying the MVT over an interval.

Success criteria
• I can verify that the conditions of the MVT have been met.
• I can use the MVT to justify a conclusion about a function’s average rate of change
over an interval and the instantaneous rate of change at a point on that interval. New Vocabulary
• I can interpret solutions to problems involving the MVT. • MVT
 Using the Mean Value Theorem

Mean Value Theorem

If 𝑓 is continuous on the closed interval [𝒂, 𝒃] 𝑓𝑓 𝑏𝑏 −𝑓(𝑎)
− 𝑓(𝑎)
Secant Line: slope=
=
𝑏𝑏−𝑎
−𝑎
and differentiable on (𝒂, 𝒃), = 𝑓′(𝑐)
Tangent Line: slope= 𝑓′(𝑐)

Then there is at least one point 𝒄 in (𝒂, 𝒃) such that

𝑓 𝑏 − 𝑓(𝑎)
= 𝑓′(𝒄)
𝑏−𝑎
 Using the Mean Value Theorem

What could happen if the function is continuous on [𝑎, 𝑏],

but not differentiable on (𝑎, 𝑏)?
Here is a function that is continuous on
[𝑎, 𝑏], but fails to be differentiable at a single
point on (𝑎, 𝑏)

Is there a point 𝑐 in (𝑎, 𝑏) such that

𝑓 𝑏 −𝑓(𝑎)
𝑓′ 𝑐 = ?
𝑏−𝑎

Is there a point 𝑐 in (0,4) such that

′ 𝑓 4 −𝑓(0)
𝑓 𝑐 = ?
4−0
 Using the Mean Value Theorem

Graph a function that is continuous on

[𝑎, 𝑏], but fails to be differentiable at a single
point on (𝑎, 𝑏) –yet despite this, there is a
point 𝒄 in (𝑎, 𝑏) such that
′
𝑓 𝑏 − 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑓 𝑐 =
𝑏−𝑎
 Using the Mean Value Theorem

How about function that is differentiable on (𝑎, 𝑏), but fails to

be continuous on [𝑎, 𝑏]?
′ 𝑓 𝑏 −𝑓(𝑎)
Is there a point 𝑐 in (𝑎, 𝑏) such that 𝑓 𝑐 = ?
𝑏−𝑎

𝒄
 Using the Mean Value Theorem

Graph a function that is differentiable on (𝑎, 𝑏), but fails to be continuous

on [𝑎, 𝑏].
𝑓 𝑏 −𝑓(𝑎)
Because of this ,there is NO point 𝑐 in (𝑎, 𝑏) such that 𝑓′ 𝑐 =
𝑏−𝑎
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Free-Response Question (2011 AP Exam)
The continuous function 𝑓 is defined on interval −4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3. The graph 𝑓 consists of two
quarter circles and one line segment, as shown.

(d) Find Average rate of change of 𝑓 on interval −4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3.

There is no point 𝑐, −4 < 𝑐 < 3 for which 𝑓′(𝑐) is equal
to average rate of change. Explain why this statement
dose not contradict the Mean Value Theorem

−3−(−1) 2
Average rate of change of 𝑓: = −
3−(−4) 7

There is no point where we will have a tangent

line parallel to that secant line.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem

The Mean Value Theorem

* When the hypothesis of theorem is TRUE, the conclusion must also

be TRUE

* When the hypothesis of theorem is FALSE, the conclusion Could be

either TRUE or FALSE

* The MVT is tested regularly on AP Exam, particularly in problems

with functions presented graphically and/or with table of values.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
2008 AP Exam.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
2003 AP Exam. 𝑥 0 1 2 3 4
𝑓(𝑥) 2 3 4 3 2

The function 𝑓 is continuous and differentiable on the closed interval [0,4]. The table above
gives selected values of 𝑓 on this interval. Which of the following statements must be true?
(A) The minimum value of 𝑓 on [0,4] is 2 .
(B) The maximum value of 𝑓 on [0,4] is 4 .
(C) 𝑓(𝑥) > 0 for 0 < 𝑥 < 4
(D) 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) < 0 for 2 < 𝑥 < 4
(E) There exists 𝑐, with 0 < 𝑐 < 4, for which 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) = 0.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
2018 AP Exam.

The solution from the scoring Standards

 Using the Mean Value Theorem
2017 AP Exam. 6

The solution from the scoring Standards

 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 1.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 1.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 2.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 3.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 4.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 5.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 6.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 7.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 8.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 9.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 10.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 11.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 12.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 13.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 14.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 15.
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 16.

𝑔′ 7 − 𝑔′ −3 1 − (−4) 1
= =
7 − −3 10 2

No, the MVT does not guarantee the existence of a value 𝑐 with
the stated properties because 𝑔′ is not differentiable for at
least one point in −3 < 𝑥 < 7
 Using the Mean Value Theorem
Practice 17.

By the Mean Value Theorem, 𝑣′(𝑡) = 0

somewhere in the interval (𝟎, 𝟏𝟓)

and somewhere in the interval (𝟐𝟓, 𝟑𝟎).

Therefore the acceleration will equal 0 for at least two values of 𝑡.