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Mean Value Theorem Edit this wiki

Beakal Tiliksew, Hobart Pao, Henry Maltby, and 5 others contributed

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The Mean Value Theorem (MVT), also known as Lagrange's Mean Value Theorem (LMVT), provides a formal
Mean Value Theorem
framework for a fairly intuitive statement relating change in a function to the behavior of its derivative. The theorem
states that the derivative of a continuous and differentiable function must attain the function's average rate of change
(in a given interval). For instance, if a car travels 100 miles in 2 hours, then it must have had a speed of 50 mph at Relevant For...
some point in time.
Calculus Differentiability

THEOREM

The Mean Value Theorem:

Suppose that a function

1. is continuous on the closed interval and

2. is differentiable on the open interval

Then, there is a number such that and

Contents
Interpretation

Rolle's Theorem

Proof

Examples

See Also

Interpretation Edit

The statement seems reasonable upon inspection of an example or two. Below, is the slope of the tangent lines in the interval , and is the slope of the

secant line joining the two endpoints and .

Note that the mean value theorem does not restrict to only one value.

Rolle's Theorem Edit

(See full wiki here.)

The mean value theorem is best understood by first studying a weakened version of its statement.

THEOREM

Rolle's Theorem:

Suppose that a function is continuous and differentiable in the interval and .

Then, there is a number such that and .

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decreasing immediately after the first point, it becomes clear that neither option can continue indefinitely if the function is to return to the same value; therefore, ther
local maximum or minimum before the next point occurs.

Rolle's theorem quickly turns into the mean value theorem by simply rotating the graph of the function.

Proof Edit

Let all be as in the theorem statement above.

Define a new function as the difference between and the line passing through points and . This line has equation

Therefore, the function has equation

Next, Rolle's theorem is useful. The function satisfies the conditions of the theorem:

1. The function is continuous on because it is the sum of and a first-degree polynomial, both of which are continuous.

2. The function is differentiable on because both and the first-degree polynomial are differentiable. In fact, we can compute it directly:

3.

By Rolle's theorem, there exists a value in such that . Therefore,

TRY IT YOURSELF

is a differentiable function that satisfies for all . Let and be the maximum and minimum values, Submit your answer
respectively, that can possibly have, then what is the value of ?

Examples Edit

EXAMPLE

Determine all the numbers that satisfy the conclusion of the mean value theorem for on the interval .

Observe that is a polynomial which is continuous and differentiable at any interval and that Then applying the mean value theorem gives

Both values of are within the interval , so they both satisfy the condition.

EXAMPLE

A car starts from rest and drives a distance of in . Use the mean value theorem to show that the car attains a speed of at some point(s) during
the interval.

The mean value theorem says that the average speed of the car (the slope of the secant line) is equal to the instantaneous speed (slope of the tangent line) at some point(s)
in the interval.

The average velocity is

From the mean value theorem, we can find in the interval such that
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EXAMPLE

Suppose that is a differentiable function for all . If for all and , what is the maximum value of ?

Since is differentiable on all intervals, we can choose any two points. So from the mean value theorem, we have

So the maximum possible value of is .

EXAMPLE

Given that is an arbitrary quadratic polynomial:

show that the point whose existence is guaranteed by the mean value theorem is the mid-point of the interval .

From the mean value theorem, we have

EXAMPLE

Does there exist a function such that , and for all ?

If such a function exists, then from the mean value theorem there is a number such that and

But this is impossible because of the assumption . Therefore, such a function does not exist.

THEOREM

Mean Value Theorem for Integrals:

Given a function on the interval [a, b], if is continuous on and differentiable on , then there exists a point between and such that

Note: This enables you to determine the mean value of on the interval . Think about it: is the average height of , which enables you just to multiply
by the width of the rectangle, , to get the area under the curve. So, by dividing both sides by , we can write the average value of like this:

EXAMPLE

Given the function , find the average value of from to .

We have
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TRY IT YOURSELF

is a function that is continuous and differentiable in the domain . If and for all Submit your answer
, what is the maximum possible value of ?

TRY IT YOURSELF

For , what is the value of in the interval that satisfies the mean value theorem? Submit your answer

See Also Edit

Intermediate Value Theorem

Rolle's theorem

Cite as: Mean Value Theorem. Brilliant.org. Retrieved 20:56, September 5, 2017, from https://brilliant.org/wiki/mean-value-theorem/

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