Q.Explain why Lagrange's mean value theorem is not applicable to the following functions in the respective intervals:
Concept understanding — Mean Value Theorems (Rolle's and Lagrange's)
Both theorems below guarantee the existence of a point where the tangent behaves in a special way — they do not by themselves tell you how many such points there are, or give a formula beyond the equation used to solve for them.
Intermediate Value Theorem. If f is continuous on [a,b], then f takes every value between f(a) and f(b) somewhere in [a,b].
Rolle's Theorem. If f(x) is continuous on the closed interval [a,b], differentiable on the open interval (a,b), and f(a)=f(b), then there is at least one c∈(a,b) with f′(c)=0.
Geometric meaning: if the endpoint heights match, somewhere in between the tangent must be horizontal (parallel to the x-axis).
Rolle's theorem can also be used indirectly, without solving an equation, to bound how many real roots an equation can have in an interval: if f had two roots α<β in (a,b) with f continuous/differentiable there, Rolle's theorem would force a zero of f′ strictly between them — so if f′(x)=0 throughout (a,b), f can have at most one root there.
Failure modes for Rolle's theorem (why it does not apply): continuity fails on [a,b] (e.g. an undefined or infinite point inside the interval), differentiability fails somewhere in (a,b) (e.g. a corner, as in ∣x∣-type functions), or simply f(a)=f(b).
Lagrange's Mean Value Theorem (LMVT). If f(x) is continuous on [a,b] and differentiable on (a,b) (with f(a),f(b) not necessarily equal), then there is at least one c∈(a,b) with
f′(c)=b−af(b)−f(a).
Rolle's theorem is the special case f(a)=f(b) (LMVT with right side =0) — it is sometimes called the "rotated Rolle's theorem."
Geometric meaning: the tangent at some interior point is parallel to the secant joining the two endpoints — equivalently, the instantaneous rate of change equals the average rate of change over [a,b] at some interior instant.
Consequences of LMVT (used throughout the rest of the chapter).
- If f′(x)>0 for all x∈(a,b), then f is strictly increasing on (a,b); if f′(x)<0 throughout, f is strictly decreasing (this is exactly Theorem 7.7/7.4's monotonicity test).
- If f′(x)=0 for all x∈(a,b), then f is constant on (a,b).
- If f′(x)=g′(x) for all x, then f(x)=g(x)+C for some constant C.
Typical uses. Beyond finding the guaranteed c directly, LMVT is a standard tool for proving an inequality — bound f′(c) using a given bound on f′, then substitute into f′(c)=b−af(b)−f(a) to bound f(b)−f(a) itself; or apply it to f(x)=e−x, f(x)=sinx, etc., between two arbitrary points to derive a general inequality valid for all values in a domain.
Failure modes for LMVT: the same two culprits as Rolle's — a break in continuity anywhere on [a,b] (commonly, an undefined point) or a break in differentiability somewhere in (a,b) (commonly, a corner from an absolute value).
Check continuity on [a,b] and differentiability on (a,b).
- f is undefined at x=0∈[−1,2], so continuity fails.
- f is not differentiable at x=−31∈(−1,3) (a corner of the absolute value).
LMVT needs continuity on [a,b] and differentiability on (a,b); each part violates exactly one.
Step 1 (i). f(x)=xx+1, x∈[−1,2].
f is undefined at x=0 (division by zero), and 0∈[−1,2]. So f is not continuous on [−1,2] — LMVT does not apply.
Step 2 (ii). f(x)=∣3x+1∣, x∈[−1,3].
f is continuous everywhere (absolute value of a continuous function), so continuity on [−1,3] holds. But f has a corner (non-differentiable point) where 3x+1=0, i.e. at x=−31, and −31∈(−1,3). So f is not differentiable on the whole open interval (−1,3) — LMVT does not apply.
(i) f is undefined at x=0, an interior point of [−1,2], so continuity fails. (ii) f has a non-differentiable corner at x=−31∈(−1,3), so differentiability fails (even though f is continuous throughout).
- Overlooking that an absolute-value function is continuous everywhere but fails differentiability exactly at its corner
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The value of 'c' satisfied by the Rolle's theorem for the function f(x)=x3−3x2, x∈[0,3] is :(a) 23(b) 1(c) 2(d) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Verifies Rolle's hypotheses then solves f′(x)=0 for the point strictly inside (0,3).
- f(x)=x3−3x2 is a polynomial, so it is continuous on [0,3] and differentiable on (0,3).
- f(0)=03−3(0)2=0 and f(3)=27−27=0, so f(0)=f(3) — all three hypotheses of Rolle's theorem hold.
- Rolle's theorem guarantees at least one c∈(0,3) with f′(c)=0.
- f′(x)=3x2−6x=3x(x−2). Setting f′(x)=0: x=0 or x=2.
- Of these, x=0 is an endpoint (excluded from the open interval), so the required value is c=2.
✓Final answer(c) 2
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The number given by the Rolle's theorem for the function x3−3x2, x∈[0,3] is :(a) 23(b) 1(c) 2(d) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Checking f(0)=f(3) and solving f′(x)=0 for the point guaranteed by Rolle's theorem inside (0,3).
- f(x)=x3−3x2 on [0,3]. f(0)=0, f(3)=27−27=0, so f(0)=f(3) and Rolle's theorem applies (polynomial, so continuous and differentiable everywhere).
- Rolle's theorem guarantees a c∈(0,3) with f′(c)=0.
- f′(x)=3x2−6x=3x(x−2). Setting =0: x=0 or x=2.
- Only x=2 lies in the open interval (0,3) (since x=0 is an endpoint).
✓Final answer(c) 2
- CBSE 2019Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If f(x) and g(x) are two functions as defined in Generalized law of mean then Lagrange's law of mean is a particular case of Generalised law of mean for :(a) f′(x)=0(b) g′(x)=0(c) g(x) is an identity function(d) f(x) is an identity function
›Reveal solutionSolution
Lagrange's Mean Value Theorem is the special case of Cauchy's Generalised Mean Value Theorem when g(x)=x (the identity function).
- Cauchy's Generalised Mean Value Theorem states: if f,g are continuous on [a,b], differentiable on (a,b), and g′(x)=0, then there exists c∈(a,b) with g(b)−g(a)f(b)−f(a)=g′(c)f′(c).
- Lagrange's Mean Value Theorem states: there exists c∈(a,b) with f′(c)=b−af(b)−f(a).
- To recover Lagrange's form from Cauchy's form, we need g(b)−g(a)=b−a and g′(c)=1.
- Choosing g(x)=x (the identity function) gives g(b)−g(a)=b−a and g′(x)=1 for all x, which exactly reduces Cauchy's result to Lagrange's.
- Hence Lagrange's law of mean is the particular case of the Generalised law of mean when g(x) is an identity function.
✓Final answerLagrange's Mean Value Theorem is the case where g(x) is an identity function — option (c).
- CBSE 2018Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The value of 'c' of Lagranges Mean value theorem for f(x)=x, when a=1 and b=4 is :(a) 21(b) 49(c) 41(d) 23
›Reveal solutionSolution
Applying Lagrange's Mean Value Theorem to f(x)=x on [1,4] and solving f′(c) equal to the average rate of change gives c=49.
- LMVT states: for f continuous on [a,b] and differentiable on (a,b), there exists c∈(a,b) with f′(c)=b−af(b)−f(a).
- Here f(x)=x, a=1, b=4. Compute f(1)=1=1 and f(4)=4=2.
- The average rate of change is 4−1f(4)−f(1)=32−1=31.
- Differentiate: f′(x)=2x1, so f′(c)=2c1.
- Set 2c1=31, giving 2c=3, i.e. c=23.
- Squaring, c=49=2.25, which indeed lies in (1,4).
✓Final answerThe LMVT value is c=49 — option (b).
- CBSE 2017Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The value of 'c' in Rolle's Theorem for the function f(x)=cos2x on [π,3π] is :(a) 0(b) 2π(c) 2π(d) 23π
›Reveal solutionSolution
Verify Rolle's hypotheses on [π,3π] and solve f′(c)=0; the only root of sin(c/2)=0 lying strictly between π and 3π is c=2π.
- f(x)=cos2x is continuous on [π,3π] and differentiable on (π,3π) (cosine is differentiable everywhere), so Rolle's theorem applies provided the end values match.
- Check end values: f(π)=cos2π=0 and f(3π)=cos23π=0. So f(π)=f(3π), and Rolle's theorem guarantees at least one c∈(π,3π) with f′(c)=0.
- Differentiate: f′(x)=−21sin2x.
- Set f′(c)=0: −21sin2c=0⇒sin2c=0⇒2c=nπ⇒c=2nπ, n∈Z.
- Among values c=0,2π,4π,…, the one lying strictly inside (π,3π) is c=2π (since π<2π<3π).
- Hence c=2π, matching option (b).
✓Final answerThe required value is c=2π.
🎓Unlock everything free for 14 days
- ✓Full step-by-step solutions
- ✓Concept-first explanations
- ✓Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- ✓PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.