Monotonicity
Rolle’s Theorem
For a function f(x) satisfying:
1. f(x) is continuous in closed interval [a,b]
2. f’(x) exists for every point in open interval (a,b)
3. f(a) = f(b)
There exists at least one point x = c, c ϵ (a,b), where f’(c) = 0
Rolle’s Theorem
F(x) is differentiable from (a,b) and attains equal values at
x = a and x = b
According to Rolle’s:
There is at least one point c,
c ϵ (a,b):
f’(c) = 0
i.e., slope of function = 0
Rolle’s Theorem
We read that f(x) has to be continuous from [a,b], let’s
make f(x) continuous from (a,b) and check whether
Rolle’s theorem holds
For (a,b), open interval:
Slope of f(x) ≠ 0 anywhere
Therefore, Rolle’s does not hold
Rolle’s Theorem and Roots
There is a very important takeaway from Rolle’s
Theorem:
Between any two real roots of a differentiable function,
there lies at least one critical point (i.e., f’(x) = 0)
The conditions in Rolle’s Theorem were continuity in [a,b],
differentiability in (a,b), and f(a) = f(b)
Here, we have put a = b, and obtained the result for roots
Rolle’s Theorem and Roots
We have f(a) = f(b) and f(x) is differentiable
So, f’(x) will be zero for some
c ϵ (a,b)
Example
If f(x) = 2x–cosx–sinx, prove that f(x) = 0 has exactly
one solution
Since f(0) = –1 (negative) and f(1) = 2–cos1–sin1 > 0
Therefore, f(x) = 0 for some value between 0 and 1 by the
intermediate value theorem
We now need to prove that there is only one solution and
not two or more solutions
Example contd.
For F(x) = 2x–cosx–sinx, f’(x) = 2 + sinx – cosx
If f(x) = 0 has two roots, then f’(x) = 0 should also have a
solution by Rolle’s theorem
F’(x) = 2+sinx–cosx
f’(x)min = 2 – √2, which is positive
Therefore, f’(x) ≠ 0 for any value of x
Therefore, f(x) can’t have more than one solution
Example
If ax2+bx+c = 0, a, b, c ϵ R. Find the condition that this
equation would have at least one root in (0,1)
A polynomial function is continuous and differentiable
Consider f’(x) = ax2+bx+c
f(x) = ax3/3 + bx2/2 + cx + λ
f(0) = λ and f(1) = a/3 + b/2 + c + λ
Example contd.
We found that f(0) = λ and f(1) = a/3 + b/2 + c + λ
Since all conditions are met for Rolle’s:
f(x) = ax3/3 + bx2/2 + cx + λ is differentiable
f’(x1) would be 0 for 0 < x1 < 1, if f(0) = f(1):
λ = a/3 + b/2 + c + λ
2a+3b+6c = 0 is the required condition
Example
If f(x) = cosx + 2, show that f’(x) = 0 has at least one root
in the interval –π < x < π
f(x) = 2+cosx is continuous and differentiable
f(π) = 1 = f(–π)
Since f(π) = f(–π) and f is also continuous and
differentiable from –π < x < π, by Rolle’s Theorem:
f’(x) = 0 for at least one x, –π < x < π
Example
Show that the function tanx+x–1 = 0 has at least one root
in the interval 0 < x < 1
If tanx +x–1 = 0, then sinx + (x–1)cosx = 0
Let f’(x) be sinx + (x–1)cosx
f(x) = ∫[sinx + (x–1)cosx]dx = (x–1)sinx + λ
f(0) = f(1) = λ
Therefore, f’(x) = 0 for some x satisfying 0 < x < 1
Lagrange’s Mean Value Theorem
F(x) satisfies the same conditions as it did for Rolle’s
Theorem except third condition:
1. f(x) is continuous in closed interval [a,b]
2. f’(x) exists for every point in open interval (a,b)
3. f(a) ≠ f(b)
Then there exists at least one point x = c, such that c ϵ
(a,b), and f’(c) = [f(b)–f(a)]/(b–a)
LMVT
Let us understand the meaning of f’(c) = [f(b)–f(a)]/(b–a)
This term [f(b)–f(a)]/(b–a) denotes ∆y/∆x
We can crudely say that ∆y/∆x is the average from a to b
Therefore, LMVT says that at some ‘c’, between a and b, the
instantaneous rate of change of y w.r.t x is equal to the
average rate of change from a to b
Geometrical Interpretation
mAB = [f(b)–f(a)]/(b–a) and at some point c ϵ (a,b),
f’(c) = mAB
In this figure, dy/dx|c = mAB
i.e., Slope of tangent at c has the
same slope as line AB
Rolle’s and LMVT
Rolle’s Theorem is a special case of LMVT
In LMVT f’(c) = [f(b)–f(a)]/(b–a) when a≠b
Consider the case when a = b:
F‘(c) = 0
This gives us the Rolle’s Theorem
Example
If f(x) and g(x) are differentiable functions for 0 ≤ x ≤ 1,
such that:
f(0) = 2, g(0) = 0, f(1) = 6, g(1) = 2
Show that there exists c: 0 < c < 1 and f’(c) = 2g’(c)
LMVT: f’(c) = (6–2)/1 = 4 and g’(c) = (2–0)/1 = 2
f‘(c) = 2g‘(c)
Example
Prove that there exists no function f(x), such that f(0) = –1, f(2)
= 4 and f’(x) ≤ 2 for all x
If such a function exists, we can apply LMVT for 0 < c < 2
f’(c) = [f(2)–f(0)]/(2–0)
f‘(c) = 5/2
Since it is given that f’(x) ≤ 2, there is no f’(c) that is 5/2
Therefore, there is no such function
Example
Suppose f(x) is differentiable for all x. If f’(x) ≤ 7 and f(2) = –4,
what is the maximum value of f(5) ?
Since f(x) is differentiable for all x, we can choose any two points
we like and apply LMVT
Let the points be 5 and 2: [f(5) – f(2)]/(5–2) = f’(c)
Since f‘(c) can have a maximum value of 7,
[f(5) + 4]/3 ≤ 7
f(5) ≤ 17
Example
a, b are two numbers such that a > b, show that a real number c
can be found between a and b such that 3c2 = b2 + ab + a2
Let f’ be 3c2
f = c3 + λ
So, let’s consider the function g(x) = x3, which is differentiable and
continuous
By LMVT: for some c ϵ (a,b), g’(x), i.e., 3c2 = (a3–b3)/(a–b)
3c2 = a2+ab+b2
Example
Use LMVT to prove that tanx > x for x ϵ (0,π/2)
Let us consider the function f(x) = tanx in [0,x]
f’(c) = (tanx – 0)/(x–0)
f’(c) = tanx/x
For f(x) = tanx, f’(c) = sec2c, which is > 1 for x ϵ (0,π/2)
Therefore, tanx/x > 1, i.e., tanx > x for x ϵ (0,π/2)
B
y=0 ac b
b
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