Asia Pac. J. Math.

2020 7:30

SOME APPLICATIONS OF CAUCHY’S MEAN VALUE THEOREM

GERMAN LOZADA-CRUZ

Departamento de Matemática, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE) - Universidade

Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
Corresponding author: german.lozada@unesp.br

Received July 7, 2020

Abstract. In this note we prove some applications of Cauchy’s mean value theorem.

2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. 26A06, 26A24.

Key words and phrases. Cauchy’s mean value theorem; Wachnicki’s theorem; bounded linear
operator.

1. Introduction

The main motivation of this note is the paper of A.Mingarelli et. al. in [4] where they
proposed the following problem: given φ : [0, 1] → R a continuous function, determine
continuous functions f, g : [0, 1] → R for which there exists c ∈ (0, 1) such that
Z1 Zc Z1 Zc
(1.1) f (x)dx φ(x)g(x)dx = g(x)dx φ(x)f (x)dx.
0 0 0 0

In this note we discuss a similar problem to that of Mingarelli. Namely; given continuous
functions φ, u, v : [0, 1] :→ R determine η ∈ (0, 1) such that
Z1 Z1 Z1 Z1
(1.2) u(x)dx φ(x)v(x)dx = v(x)dx φ(x)u(x)dx
0 η 0 η

R1 R1
• If u(x)dx = v(x)dx = 0 then (1.2) has infinitely many solutions namely the whole interval
0 0
(0, 1).

DOI: 10.28924/APJM/7-30

©2020 Asia Pacific Journal of Mathematics

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Asia Pac. J. Math. 2020 7:30 2 of 9

• If u(x) = 1, φ(x) = 1 − x, and v(x) = (1 − x)2 , it may have exactly one solution η ≈ 0.18.
• In the case, u(x) = 1, φ(x) = x and v(x) = x2 , it may have no solution η ∈ (0, 1).
The main tool employed to solve our problem (1.2) is a variant of Cauchy’s mean value
theorem (see Theorem 1.3).
Now we start by stating some results that we will use in this work.

Theorem 1.1 (Cauchy’s Mean Value Theorem). Let f, g : [a, b] → R be continuous functions on
an interval [a, b], differentiable on (a, b) and g 0 (x) 6= 0 for all x ∈ (a, b). Then, there exists η ∈ (a, b)
such that

f (b) − f (a) f 0 (η)

(1.3) = 0 .
g(b) − g(a) g (η)

In 2000, E.Wachnicki proved the following variant of Cauchy’s mean value theorem.

Theorem 1.2 (Wachnicki’s Theorem). Let f, g : [a, b] → R be differentiable functions on [a, b].
Suppose that g 0 (x) 6= 0 for all x ∈ [a, b] and

f 0 (a) f 0 (b)
(1.4) = .
g 0 (a) g 0 (b)

Then, there exists η ∈ (a, b) such that

f (η) − f (a) f 0 (η)

(1.5) = 0 .
g(η) − g(a) g (η)

Proof. The details of proof can be see in [6, Theorem 1.3]. But for reader’s convenience we put
here. Consider the function W : [a, b] → R given by

 f (x)−f (a) , if x ∈ (a, b]

g(x)−g(a)
(1.6) W(x) =
 f 00 (a) ,

if x = a.
g (a)

The function W is continuous in [a, b], differentiable in (a, b] and

g(x) − g(a) f 0 (x) − f (x) − f (a) g 0 (x)

   
0
W (x) =  2
g(x) − g(a)
f 0 (x) − W(x)g 0 (x)
=   , x ∈ (a, b].
g(x) − g(a)

By Weierstrass theorem W attains its bounds on [a, b].

Asia Pac. J. Math. 2020 7:30 3 of 9

If W does not attain its bounds simultaneously in a and b, then there exists η ∈ (a, b) where
W attains its bounds. By Fermat’s theorem, we have W 0 (η) = 0, i.e.,
f 0 (η)
f 0 (η) − W(η)g 0 (η) = 0 ⇔ W(η) =
g 0 (η)
f (η) − f (a) f 0 (η)
⇔ = 0 .
g(η) − g(a) g (η)
If W attains its bounds in a and b, then we have the following possibilities:

(1.7) W(a) 6 W(x) 6 W(b), ∀x ∈ [a, b]

or

(1.8) W(b) 6 W(x) 6 W(a), ∀x ∈ [a, b].

Without loss of generality we can assume that (1.7) holds. Also we can assume that g 0 (x) > 0
for all x ∈ [a, b], i.e., g is strictly increasing [a, b]. Thus, g(a) < g(x) < g(b), ∀x ∈ [a, b].
Using the second inequality in (1.7) we get

(1.9) f (x) 6 f (a) + W(b)[g(x) − g(a)], ∀x ∈ [a, b].

Then, for all x ∈ [a, b] we have

f (b) − f (x) > f (b) − f (a) − W(b)[g(x) − g(a)].

Thus,
f (b)−f (x) f (b)−f (a)−W(b)[g(x) − g(a)] f (b) − f (a)
> = = W(b).
g(b)−g(x) g(b) − g(x) g(b) − g(a)
Passing to the limit as x → b− , we obtain
f 0 (b) f (b) − f (x)
(1.10) = lim > W(b).
g 0 (b) x→b− g(b) − g(x)
Using (1.4) in (1.10) we get
f 0 (a) f 0 (b) f (b) − f (x)
(1.11) W(a) = 0
= 0
= lim− > W(b).
g (a) g (b) x→b g(b) − g(x)
Finally using (1.11) in (1.7) we conclude that W is a constant and therefore W 0 = 0. 

The ideas contained in the proof of Wachnicki’s theorem are of C. Lupu in [3, Lemma 2.1, p.
2].

In [1] we proved the following variant of Wachnicki’s Theorem.

Asia Pac. J. Math. 2020 7:30 4 of 9

Theorem 1.3 ( [1, Theorem 2.4]). Let f, g : [a, b] → R be differentiable on [a, b]. Suppose that
g 0 (x) 6= 0 for all x ∈ [a, b] and

f 0 (a) f 0 (b)
(1.12) = .
g 0 (a) g 0 (b)
Then, there exists η ∈ (a, b) such that
f (b) − f (η) f 0 (η)
(1.13) = 0 .
g(b) − g(η) g (η)

Proof. The proof follows the same reasoning of Wachnicki’s Theorem using the function
G : [a, b] → R given by

 f (b)−f (x) , if x ∈ [a, b)

g(b)−g(x)
G(x) =
f 0 (b)
, if x = b.


g 0 (b)

2. Applications of Cauchy’s Mean Value Theorem

In this section we prove the main results of this note. Let L2 ([a, b]) the space of square
Lebesgue integrable functions and let T : L2 ([a, b]) → L2 ([a, b]) be the bounded linear operator
given by

Zb
(T f )(t) = f (x)dx.
t

Let φ ∈ C 1 ([a, b]) with φ0 (x) 6= 0 for all x ∈ (a, b). Consider T : C([a, b]) → C([a, b]) given by

Zb
(T Φ)(t) = Φ(x)dx, Φ ∈ C([a, b]),
t

and similarly define Tφ : C([a, b]) → C([a, b]) given by

Zb
(Tφ Φ)(t) = φ(x)Φ(x)dx, Φ ∈ C([a, b]).
t
n n o
Let H := φ ∈ C ([a, b]) : φ (x) =
1
6 0, ∀x ∈ [a, b], φ(b) = 0 and Cnull ([a, b]) := f ∈ C([a, b]) :
0

b o
f (x)dx = 0 .
R
a

Using the Wachnicki’s theorem, C.Lupu in [3] proved the following result.
Asia Pac. J. Math. 2020 7:30 5 of 9

Theorem 2.1. ( [3, Theorem 2.2]) Let u ∈ Cnull ([a, b]) and v ∈ C 1 ([a, b]) with v 0 (x) 6= 0 for all
x ∈ [a, b]. Then there exists η ∈ (a, b) such that

(2.1) Tv u(η) = v(a) · T u(η),

Rt
where Tv u(t) = u(x)v(x)dx.
a
Now, we are ready to prove the main results of this note

Theorem 2.2. Let u ∈ Cnull ([a, b]) and v ∈ C 1 ([a, b]) with v 0 (x) 6= 0 for all x ∈ [a, b]. Then there
exists η ∈ (a, b) such that

(2.2) Tv u(η) = v(b) · T u(η).

Proof. To prove (2.2) we need to prove the existence of η ∈ (a, b) such that

Zb Zb
u(x)v(x)dx = v(b) u(x)dx
η η

Consider the functions f, g : [a, b] → R given by


 Rb Rb
f (t) = u(x)v(x)dx − v(t) u(x)dx

t t

g(t) = v(t).


Rb f 0 (a) f 0 (b)
Now, it is easy to see that f 0 (t) = −v 0 (t) u(x)dx. Also = . Then, by Theorem 1.3
t g 0 (a) g 0 (b)
there exists η ∈ (a, b) such that

f (b) − f (η) f 0 (η)

= 0 ,
g(b) − g(η) g (η)
which is equivalent to

Rb Rb Rb
− u(x)v(x)dx + v(η) u(x)dx −v 0 (η) u(x)dx
η η η
= ,
v(b) − v(η) v 0 (η)
and thus we have
Zb Zb Zb Zb
− u(x)v(x)dx + v(η) u(x)dx = −v(b) u(x)dx + v(η) u(x)dx,
η η η η

which proves (2.2). 

Asia Pac. J. Math. 2020 7:30 6 of 9

Remark 2.1. In the same setting as Theorem 2.2 the function f satisfy the f 0 (a) = f 0 (b). Then, by
Myers’ theorem ( [5, Theorem 10 ]) there exists η ∈ (a, b) such that

f (b) − f (η) = f 0 (η)(b − η),

which is equivalent to
Zb Zb Zb
0
− u(x)v(x)dx + v(η) u(x)dx = −v (η)(b − η) u(x)dx
η η η

Zb h i Zb
0
u(x)v(x)dx = v(η) + v (η)(b − η) u(x)dx,
η η

and this can be written as

(2.3) Tv u(η) = v(η) + (b − η)v 0 (η) · T u(η).

 

The following result follows immediately from Theorem 2.2

Corollary 2.1. If u ∈ Cnull ([a, b]) and v ∈ H, then there exists η ∈ (a, b) such that
Zb
(2.4) u(x)v(x)dx = 0.
η

Remark 2.2. The Corollary 2.1 tell us that the functions in Tu (Cnull ([a, b])) have at least one zero in
(0, 1).

Theorem 2.3. If u, v : [0, 1] → R are continuous functions, then there exists η ∈ (0, 1) such that
Z1 Z1 h Z1 Z1 i
(2.5) Tφ u(η) v(x)dx − Tφ v(η) u(x)dx = φ(1) T u(η) v(x)dx − T v(η) u(x)dx .
0 0 0 0

Proof. Consider the functions f, g : [0, 1] → R given by


 h i R1 h i R1
f (t) = φ(t)T u(t) − Tφ u(t) v(x)dx − φ(t)T v(t) − Tφ v(t) u(x)dx

0 0

g(t) = φ(t).


h R1 R1 i f 0 (0) f 0 (1)
It is easy to see that f 0 (t) = φ0 (t) T u(t) v(x)dx − T v(t) u(x)dx . Also 0 = 0 . Then,
0 0 g (0) g (1)
by Theorem 1.3 there exists η ∈ (0, 1) such that
f (1) − f (η) f 0 (η)
= 0 ,
g(1) − g(η) g (η)
Asia Pac. J. Math. 2020 7:30 7 of 9

which is equivalent to
h i R1 h i R1
− φ(η)T u(η) − Tφ u(η) v(x)dx + φ(η)T v(η) − Tφ v(η) u(x)dx
0 0
φ(1) − φ(η)
h 1 R1 i
φ0 (η) T u(η) v(x)dx − T v(η) u(x)dx
R
0 0
= .
φ0 (η)
Thus
h i Z1 h i Z1
− φ(η)T u(η) − Tφ u(η) v(x)dx + φ(η)T v(η) − Tφ v(η) u(x)dx
0 0

h ih Z1 Z1 i
= φ(1) − φ(η) T u(η) v(x)dx − T v(η) u(x)dx .
0 0

From the last equality we get (2.5). 

Corollary 2.2. If φ(1) = 0, then there exists η ∈ (0, 1) such that

Z1 Z1
u(x)dx · Tφ v(η) = v(x)dx · Tφ u(η).
0 0

This corollary follows immediately from Theorem 2.3.

Corollary 2.3. If u, v : [0, 1] → R are continuous functions, then there exists η ∈ (0, 1) such that
Z1 Z1 Z1 Z1
(2.6) u(x)dx (1 − x)v(x)dx = v(x)dx (1 − x)u(x)dx.
0 η 0 η

Proof. The proof follows by applying the Corollary 2.2 with φ(x) = 1 − x. 

Remark 2.3. The equation (2.6) in the Corollary 2.3 is a slight variation of a problem proposed by
C.Lupu and T.Lupu ( [2]).

Remark 2.4. In the proof of Therorem 2.2 we considered the auxiliary function f : [0, 1] → R given by
Z1 Z1
f (t) = u(x)v(x)dx − v(t) u(x)dx.
t t

R1
Its derivative is given by f 0 (t) = −v 0 (t) u(x)dx. If u ∈ Cnull ([0, 1]), then f 0 (0) = 0 = f 0 (1). By
t
applying Myers’ theorem ( [5, Theorem 10 ]) there exists η ∈ (0, 1) such that f (1)−f (η) = (1−η)f 0 (η),
Asia Pac. J. Math. 2020 7:30 8 of 9

which is equivalent to

Z1 h i Z1
0
u(x)v(x)dx = v(η) + (1 − η)v (η) u(x)dx.
η η

This result is completely different from Therorem 2.2.

On the other hand, if u ∈ C([0, 1]) is such that

Z1 Z1
u(x)v(x)dx = v(0) u(x)dx,
0 0

then f (0) = 0 = f (1). By Rolle’s theorem there exists η ∈ (0, 1) such that f 0 (η) = 0, i.e.,

Z1
u(x)dx = 0.
η

The following remarks are consequences of Theorem 2.2 on the interval [0, 1].

Remark 2.5. If we replace the functions u, v by their p-powers up , v p , 1 < p < ∞, in Theorem 2.3 we
have
Z1 Z1 Z1 Z1
φ(x)up (x)dx v p (x)dx − φ(x)v p (x)dx up (x)dx
η 0 η 0
 1 
Z Z1 Z1 Z1
= φ(1)  up (x)dx v p (x)dx − v p (x)dx up (x)dx .
η 0 η 0

This equality says that

kukpLp (η,1) kvkpLp (0,1) − kvkpLp (η,1) kukpLp (0,1)

φ φ
h i
= φ(1) kukpLp (η,1) kvkpLp (0,1) − kvkpLp (η,1) kukpLp (0,1)

where the quantities are the norm in their respective spaces of (weighted) p-integrable functions.
Moreover, if φ(1) = 0 we get a slight modification of Example 3 in [4], i.e.,

kukLpφ (η,1) kukLp (0,1)

= .
kvkLpφ (η,1) kvkLp (0,1)

In particular, if u, v have equal Lp (0, 1)-norms, then, for given φ ∈ H there exists η ∈ (0, 1) such that
their norms in the weighted Lebesgue space Lpφ (η, 1) are also equal.
Asia Pac. J. Math. 2020 7:30 9 of 9

Remark 2.6. For i 6= j consider u(x) = Pi (x)Pj (x) where Pi , Pj are orthogonal functions on [0, 1],
i.e.,
Z1
Pi (x)Pj (x)dx = 0.
0

By Theorem 2.2 there exists ηij ∈ (0, 1) such that

Z1 Z1
φ(x)Pi (x)Pj (x)dx = φ(1) Pi (x)Pj (x)dx.
ηij ηij

R1
If φ(1) = 0, then we obtain φ(x)Pi (x)Pj (x)dx = 0 which is similar to the Example 4 in [4].
ηij

Acknowledgments. This work was partially supported by FAPESP grant: 15/24095-6.

References

[1] G. Lozada-Cruz, Some variants of Cauchy’s mean value theorem, Int. J. Math. Educ. Sci. Technol. 51 (2020),
1155–1163.
[2] C. Lupu and T. Lupu, Problem 11290, Amer. Math. Mon. 14 (4) (2007), 359.
[3] C. Lupu, Mean value problems of Flett type for a Volterra operator. Electron. J. Differ. Equ. 2013 (2013), 53.
[4] A. B. Mingarelli, J. M. Pacheco andA. Plaza, A mean value property for pairs of integrals. Acta Math. Univ.
Comenianae. 78 (2009), 65–70.
[5] R. E. Myers, Some elementary results related to the mean value theorem, Two-Year Coll. Math. J. 8 (1977),
51-53.
[6] E. Wachnicki, Une variante du théorème de Cauchy de la valeur moyenne, Demonstr. Math. 33 (2000),
737–740.