Chapter 6: Rolle’s Theorem, Mean Value Theorem and

Expansion of Functions
[Chap 4.8 Ant 9Ed 302]

1 Rolle's and Mean Value Theorems

1. [Ant 9Ed Page302/Th 4.8.1]

Rolle's Theorem:
Let f be continuous on the closed interval [a,b] and differentiable on the open interval (a,b). If
f(a) = 0 and f(b) = 0 or f(a) = f(b)
then there is at least one point c in the interval (a,b) such that f (c) = 0.

y = f(x)
y = f(x)

x x x
a c b a b a c b

y = f(x) y = f(x) = constant, then any

point in the interval (a,b) is c.

Figure 1: Location of point c in Rolle’s theorem.

2. [Ant 303/Ex 1]
Find the two x-intercepts of the function f(x) = x2 − 5x + 4 and confirm that f (c) = 0 at some
point c between those intercepts. Sketch the graph.
Solution: f(x) = 0 at x = 1 and x = 4. Since the polynomial function f is continuous and
differentiable everywhere, the hypotheses of Rolle’s Theorem are satisfied on the interval, that is
f(x) is continuous on the closed interval [1, 4] and differentiable on the open interval (1, 4) .
Thus, we are guaranteed the existence of at least one point c in the interval (1,4) such that f (c) =
0.
Solution of the equation f (x) = 2x – 5 = 0 yields x = 5/2. So, c = 5/2 is the point in the interval
(1,4) at which f (c) = 0.

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 Chapter 6: Rolle’s Theorem, MVT, Expansion of Functions

3. [Ant 9Ed Page304/Th 4.8.2]

Mean-Value Theorem:
Let f be continuous on the closed interval [a,b] and differentiable on the open interval (a,b). Then
there is at least one point c in the interval (a,b) such that
f (b) f (a )
f (c ) .
b a

y = f(x)

x
x
a c b

Figure 2: For Mean value theorem the tangent line is parallel to secant line.

f (b) f (a ) y
Here: f (c ) tan .
b a x

4. [Ant 305/Ex 4]
1 3
Show that the function f ( x) x 1 satisfies the hypotheses of the Mean-Value Theorem
4
over the interval [0,2] , and find all values of c in the interval (0,2) at which the tangent line to the
graph of f is parallel to the secant line joining the points (0,f(0))and (2,f(2)).
[Ans. hints 3c 2 4, or c 2/ 3 1.15 . However, only the positive solution lies in the
interval (0, 2)]

Questions
Q1. State and prove Rolle’s Theorem.
Q2. State and prove Mean-Value Theorem.

f (b) f (a )
f (c ) (1)
b a
Let b – a = h , 0 < < 1 then c = a + h in this case if = 0 then c = a and if = 1 then c = b.
So, 0 < < 1 implies a < c < b .
So, from (1)

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 Chapter 6: Rolle’s Theorem, MVT, Expansion of Functions

f ( a h) f (a)
f (a h)
h

f ( a h) f (a) hf (a h) (2)

2 Taylor's Theorem
5. [Ant 9Ed 353/Th 9.7.3]
If f can be differentiated n times at x = a, then we define the nth Taylor polynomial for f about x =
a to be
h2 hn 1 n 1
f ( a h) f (a) hf (a) f (a)  f (a) Rn (3)
2 n 1
where Rn is the remainder after n terms.
hn n
Rn f (a h) , 0 < < 1 is known as Lagrange’s form of remainder.
n

If a = 0, h = x then (3) becomes

x2 xn 1 n 1 xn n
f ( x) f (0) xf (0) f (0)  f (0) f ( x) , where 0 < < 1
2 n 1 n
is known as Maclaurin's series or Maclaurin's theorem.

Forms of Remainder

hn n
1. Lagrange’s form of remainder is : Rn f (a h) , 0 < < 1 .
n

h n (1 ) n 1
2. Cauchy's form of remainder: Rn f n (a h) , 0 < < 1.
n 1

hn (1 )n p
3. Schlomisch and Roche's form of remainder: Rn f n (a h) , 0 < < 1.
pn 1
Special cases:
hn n
(i) For p = n, the above remainder reduces to Rn f (a h) which is the Lagrange’s form
n
of remainder.

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 Chapter 6: Rolle’s Theorem, MVT, Expansion of Functions

h n (1 ) n 1
(ii) For p = 1, the above remainder reduces to Rn f n (a h) which is Cauchy's
n 1
form of remainder.

Case 1. If a = x, n = 1 then (3) becomes

f ( x h) f ( x) hf ( x h) , 0 < < 1
which is the first Mean-Value Theorem.

Case 2. If a = x, n = 2 then (3) becomes

h2
f ( x h) f ( x) hf ( x) f (a h) , 0 < < 1
2
which is the second Mean-Value Theorem (MVT).

Ex. Show that

x3 x5
1. f ( x) sin x x 
3 5
x3 x4
2. f ( x) e x cos x 1 x  [M322/Ex4]
3 6

4 Problems

Ant 308/Ex1-4.
Verify that the hypotheses of Rolle’s Theorem are satisfied on the given interval, and find all
values of c in that interval that satisfy the conclusion of the theorem.

1. f(x) = x2 − 8x + 15 ; [3, 5] 2. f(x) = x3 − 3x2 + 2x ; [0, 2]

3. f(x) = cosx ; [ /2, 3 /2] 4. f(x) = ln(4 + 2x − x2 ) ; [3, 5]

[Ant 308/Ex5-8]
Verify that the hypotheses of the Mean-Value Theorem are satisfied on the given interval, and
find all values of c in that interval that satisfy the conclusion of the theorem.

5. f(x) = x2 − x; [–3, 5] 6. f(x) = x3 + x – 4 ; [–1, 2]

1
7. f ( x) x 1 ; [0, 3] 8. f ( x ) x ; [3, 4]
x

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 Chapter 6: Rolle’s Theorem, MVT, Expansion of Functions

9. [Ant 308/prob15]
Let f(x) = tan x.
(a) Show that there is no point c in the interval (0,π) such that f (c) = 0, even though
f(0) = f(π) = 0.
(b) Explain why the result in part (a) does not contradict Rolle’s Theorem.

10. Expand f ( x) 5x2 7 x 3 in powers of x–2.

[DM 151/ Ex 16(iii) ; Ans. 37 + 27(x –2) + 5(x –2)2 ].
11. Show that the Cauchy's form of remainder after n terms in the expansion of
n 1
( 1)n 1 x n 1
f ( x) log(1 x) in powers of x is Rn , 0< <1
1 x 1 x
[DM 146/ Ex 5
n 1
x n (1 )n 1
n ( 1)n 1 x n 1
[ Hints: Rn f ( x) ]
n 1 1 x 1 x
x2 x3 x4
12. Prove that f ( x) ln(1 sin x) x  [M331/prob17].
2 6 12
13.
[DM165/Ex5]
(a) Expand (sin-1x)2 in a series of ascending powers of x.
(b) Verify Role’s theorem for the function f(x) = x3 – x2 – 4x + 4 in the interval (–2, 2) .
14. [DM168/Ex16]
x
Expand y = e loge(1 + x) in a series of ascending powers of x.
15. [DM149/Ex4]
In the Mean Value Theorem (MVT) f(x) = f(0) + h f ( h), 0< < 1, show that the limiting
value of as h 0+ is ½ according as f(x) = cos x .

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 Chapter 7: Indeterminate Forms and L’Hospitals Rule

Chapter 7: Indeterminate Forms and L’Hospitals Rule

1 Introduction
In calculus, L'Hôpital's rule, pronounced: [lopi'tal]. The rule is named after the 17th-century
French mathematician Guillaume de L'Hôpital, who published the rule in his book in 1696.

Example 1
sin x
If F ( x ) then F(0) is undefined that is if we want to calculate this as
x

sin 0 0
F (0) which is an indeterminate form that is we cannot calculate F(0) and it is
0 0
undefined but we can calculate the limit of this function at x = 0 as follows:
sin x
lim F ( x) lim 1
x 0 x 0 x
The differentiation of the numerator and denominator often simplifies the quotient and/or
converts it to a determinate form, allowing the limit to be evaluated more easily.
Thus
sin x cos x
lim lim cos 0 1
x 0 x x 0 1

2 List of indeterminate forms

0
, ,0 , , 00 , 0
, 1 are indeterminate forms.
0

Example 2

6. [HAnt 9Ed Page221/Ex1]

(First method)
x2 4 0 x2 4
F(x) = at x = 2 becomes but lim F ( x) lim lim( x 2) 4
x 2 0 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2

We can calculate this by differentiating the numerator and denominator and the taking the limit
as:

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 Chapter 7: Indeterminate Forms and L’Hospitals Rule

(Second method)

x2 4 2x
lim lim 2(2) 4
x 2 x 2 x 2 1

What we have done in the 2nd method is we have used the L'Hôpital's rule to evaluate the limit.

f ( x) f (a) 0
That is, if F ( x) where f(a) = 0 and g(a) = 0 then F (a) , which is
g ( x) g (a) 0
meaningless or indeterminate form and we may use L'Hôpital's rule to evaluate the limit of F(x)
at x = a.

3 L’Hospitals Rule

( x) ( x) ( a)
lim lim
x a ( x) x a ( x) ( a)
( x) ( a) ( a) ( a) …
lim etc.
x a ( x) ( a) ( a) ( a)

In general

If (a) = (a) = … = n-1

(a) = 0
and If (a) = (a) = … = n-1
(a) = 0
n n
n ( x) ( x) ( a)
but (a) 0 , then lim lim n n
x a ( x) x a ( x) ( a)

Example 3
x tan x
Evaluate lim
x 0 x3
0
Solution: The given limit is of the form so, using the L'Hôpital's rule we have
0

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 Chapter 7: Indeterminate Forms and L’Hospitals Rule

x tan x 1 sec 2 x 2sec 2 x tan x

lim lim lim
x 0 x3 x 0 3x 2 x 0 6x
2
2sec x tan x 1 tan x
lim lim(sec 2 x) lim
x 0 6x 3 x 0 x 0 x
1 1
(1)(1) (Ans).
3 3

4 Problems on Indeterminate Forms

1 1
1. Evaluate lim [Atn225/Ex 5; Ans. 0]
x 0 x sin x
1
x
2. Find lim(1 sin x) [Atn226/Ex 6; Ans. e ]
x 0

1 x
ex ln
e
3. Evaluate lim [M355/13; Ans. –½]
x 0 tan x x
1 1
4. Evaluate lim [M358/20; Ans. –1/3]
x 0 x2 sin 2 x
x
5. Show that the L'Hôpital's rule fails to evaluate lim . Calculate the actual value
x ( x 1)1/ 2
2

of the limit. [http://mathworld.wolfram.com/LHospitalsRule.html; Ans. 1 ]

6. Find the following limits [DM 200/Ex6]

lim 2 lim 2
(i) (cos x)cot x
; (ii) (cos x)cosec x
x 0 x 0