Mean value Theorem

Statement: If a function f is defined on  a, b is

(i) Continuous in the closed interval  a, b

(ii) Derivable in the open interval  a, b 

f b  f  a 
Then there exists at least one real number c   a, b  such that  f c
ba

Example: Verify Mean Value Theorem for the following functions

(a) f  x   3  2 x  x 2 ;  0,1

(b) f  x   x  x  1 x  2  ; 0, 1 2 

(a) Solution: f  x   3  2 x  x 2

(i) f  x   3  2 x  x 2 Is a polynomial in x. Since every polynomial is a continuous for every

value of x. so, f(x) is continuous in  0, 1 .

(ii) f  x   3  2 x  x 2

 f   x   2  2x

This does not become infinite or indeterminate for any value of x in the open interval  0,1 . So
the function is derivable in the open interval  0,1 .

Hence f(x) satisfies all the two conditions of Mean Value Theorem. Therefore by Mean Value
Theorem

f 1  3  2.1  12  3  2  1  4
and f  0   3  2.0  0  3

f 1  f  0 
 f c
1 0
43
  2  2c  2  2 c  1  2 c  2  1
1
1
c
2

1
Since c    0,1 . Hence the verification of mean value theorem
2
(b) Solution: f  x   x  x  1 x  2 

(i) f  x   x  x  1 x  2  Is a polynomial in x. Since every polynomial is a continuous for every

value of x. so, f(x) is continuous in  0, 1 2  .

(ii) f  x   x  x  1 x  2   3x 2  6 x  2

 f   x   3x 2  6 x  2

This does not become infinite or indeterminate for any value of x in the open interval  0, 1 2  . So
the function is derivable in the open interval  0, 1 2  .

Hence f(x) satisfies all the two conditions of Mean Value Theorem. Therefore by Mean Value
Theorem

1  1  1  3
f  12     1  2  
2  2  2  8
and f  0   0  0  1 0  2   0

f  12   f  0   f c
1
2 0
3
0
 8  3c 2  6c  2
1
2
3
  2  3c 2  6c  2
8
3
  3c 2  6c  2
4
 12c 2  24c  8  3
 12c 2  24c  5  0

  24    24   4.12.5

2
24  576  240
c  
2.12 24


24  336 24  4 21 4 6  21
 
 
24 24 24


6  21 
6

6  21 6  21
c  or c 
6 6
6  21  1 
but c   0, 
6  2
Hence the verification of mean value theorem

Exercise: Verify Mean Value Theorem for the following functions

1
i  f  x   ;  1,1
x
 ii  f  x   x 3 ,  1,1
1