Math 313: Lecture 26
M. K. Vemuri
Mean Value Theorems (contd)
Last time we proved:
Theorem (Mean Value Theorem)
If f : [a, b] → R is continuous and f is differentiable on (a, b) then
there exists x ∈ (a, b) such that
f (b) − f (a) = (b − a)f ′ (x).
Sometimes the following statement (see book for proof) is needed:
Theorem (Generalized Mean Value Theorem)
If f , g : [a, b] → R are continuous and are differentiable on (a, b)
then there exists x ∈ (a, b) such that
[f (b) − f (a)]g ′ (x) = [g (b) − g (a)]f ′ (x).
Mean Value Theorems (contd)
Theorem
Suppose f is differentiable on (a, b).
(a). If f ′ (x) ≥ 0 for all x ∈ (a, b), then f is monotonically
increasing.
(b). If f ′ (x) = 0 for all x ∈ (a, b), then f is constant.
(c). If f ′ (x) ≤ 0 for all x ∈ (a, b), then f is monotonically
decreasing.
Proof.
We’ll prove (b). The other two parts are similar. Assume f ′ (x) = 0
for all x ∈ (a, b). If x1 , x2 ∈ (a, b), and x1 < x2 , then by the MVT,
there exists x ∈ (x1 , x2 ) ⊆ (a, b) such that
f (x2 ) − f (x1 ) = f ′ (x)(x2 − x1 ) = 0.
Mean Value Theorems (contd)
Theorem
Suppose f : [a, b] → R is differentiable and f ′ (a) < λ < f ′ (b).
Then there exists x ∈ (a, b) such that f ′ (x) = λ.
Proof.
Put g (t) = f (t) − λt. Then c = g ′ (a) < 0. Therefore there exists
δ > 0 such that
a < t < a + δ =⇒ |(g (t) − g (a))/(t − a) − c| < −c/2, whence
a < t < a + δ =⇒ g (t) < g (a). Choose t1 ∈ (a, a + δ). Then
g (t1 ) < g (a).
Similarly, since g ′ (b) > 0, there exists t2 ∈ (a, b) such that
g (t2 ) < g (b).
Hence g attains its minimum on [a, b] at some point x ∈ (a, b).
Therefore g ′ (x) = 0, whence f ′ (x) = λ.
Corollary
If f is differentiable on [a, b], then f ′ cannot have any simple
discontinuities on [a, b].
Mean Value Theorems (contd)
Example
Define f : R → R by
(
x 2 sin(1/x), (x ̸= 0)
f (x) =
0, (x = 0).
It is clear that f is differentiable on R \ {0} and
f ′ (x) = − cos(1/x) + 2x sin(1/x) there. Also
f ′ (0) = lim x sin(1/x) = 0.
x→0
Therefore f ′ is defined on R and
(
− cos(1/x) + 2x sin(1/x), ̸ 0)
(x =
f ′ (x) =
0, (x = 0).
Note that f ′ is not continuous at 0.
L’Hospital’s rule
Theorem
Let a, b ∈ [−∞, ∞]. Suppose f , g : (a, b) → R are differentiable,
and g ′ (x) ̸= 0 for all x ∈ (a, b). Suppose
f ′ (x)
lim = A.
x→a g ′ (x)
If f (x) → 0 and g (x) → 0 as x → a, then
f (x)
lim = A.
x→a g (x)
L’Hospital’s rule (contd)
Proof. Assume first that A ∈ [−∞, ∞). Then there exists
q, r ∈ R such that A < r < q. Since
f ′ (x)
lim = A,
x→a g ′ (x)
there exists c ∈ (a, b) such that
f ′ (x)
a < x < c =⇒ < r.
g ′ (x)
If a < x < y < c, then by the generalized MVT, there exists
t ∈ (x, y ) such that
f (x) − f (y ) f ′ (t)
= ′ < r.
g (x) − g (y ) g (t)
L’Hospital’s rule (contd)
Letting x → a, we see that
f (y )
a < y < c =⇒ ≤ r < q.
g (y )
In the same manner, if A ∈ (−∞, ∞], and p < A then there exists
c ∈ (a, b) such that
f (y )
a < y < c =⇒ p < .
g (y )
