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

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