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Worksheet U3 - A2—Rolle’s Theorem and the MVT

Show all work. No calculator unless otherwise stated.

Multiple Choice

1. Determine if the function f ( x ) = x 6 − x satisfies the hypothesis of Rolle’s Theorem on the interval
[0,6], and if it does, find all numbers c satisfying the conclusion of that theorem.
(A) 2, 3 (B) 4, 5 (C) 5 (D) 4 (E) hypothesis not satisfied

2. Let f be a function defined on [−1,1] such that f ( −1) = f (1) . Consider the following properties that f
might have:
I. f is continuous on [−1,1] , differentiable on ( −1,1) .
II. f ( x ) = cos3 x
III. f ( x ) = sin π x
Which properties ensure that there exists a c in ( −1,1) at which f ʹ′ ( c ) = 0 ?
(A) I only (B) I and II only (C) I and III only (D) II only (E) II and III only (F) III only
(G) all of them (H) none of them

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3. Determine if the function f ( x ) = x3 − x − 1 satisfies the hypothesis of the MVT on [ −1, 2]. If it does,
find all possible values of c satisfying the conclusion of the MVT.
1 1
(A) − (B) −1, 1 (C) (D) 0 (E) 1 (F) −1 (G) hypothesis not satisfied
2 2

1/ 3
4. Determine if the function f ( x ) = x + x 2 / 3 (1 − x ) satisfies the hypothesis of the MVT on [0,1]. If it
does, find all possible values of c satisfying the conclusion of the MVT.
3 1 1 1 2
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) hypothesis not satisfied
4 4 2 3 3

5. Which of the following functions below satisfy the hypothesis of the MVT?
1
I. f ( x ) = on [0, 2]
x +1
II. f ( x ) = x1/ 3 on [0,1]
III. f ( x ) = x on [−1,1]
(A) I only (B) I and II only (C) I and III only (D) III only (E) none of them (F) all of them

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6. Let f be a twice-differentiable function on ( −∞, ∞ ) such that the equation f ( x ) = 0 has exactly 3 real
roots, all distinct. Consider the following possibilities:
I. the equation f ʹ′ ( x ) = 0 has at most 3 distinct roots
II. the equation f ʹ′ʹ′ ( x ) = 0 has at least 1 root
Which of these properties will f have?
(A) I only (B) II only (C) both of them (D) neither of them

7. As a graduation present, Jenna received a sports car which she drives very fast but very, very smoothly
and safely. She always covers the 53 miles from her apartment in Austin, Texas to her parents’ home in
New Braunfels in less than 48 minutes. To slow her down, her dad decides to change the speed limit
(he has connections.) Which one of the speed limits below is the highest her dad can post, but still
catch her speeding at some point on her trip?
(A) 55 mph (B) 70 mph (C) 65 mph (D) 50 mph (E) 60 mph

Free Response:

8. Determine if Rolle’s Theorem can be applied to the following functions on the given interval. If so,
find the values guaranteed by the theorem.
⎡ π π ⎤ x2 − 2x − 3
(a) f ( x ) = cos 2 x on ⎢ − , ⎥ (b) g ( x ) = on [ −1,3]
⎣ 12 6 ⎦ x+2

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9. Determine if the MVT can be applied to the following functions on the given interval. If so, find the
values guaranteed by the theorem.
⎧arcsin x, − 1 ≤ x < 1
⎪
(a) f ( x ) = ln ( x − 1) on [ 2, 4] (b) f ( x ) = ⎨ x on [ −1,3] .
⎪⎩ 2 , 1 ≤ x ≤ 3

x +1 ⎡ 1 ⎤
(c) g ( x ) = on ⎢ , 2 ⎥ (d) f ( x ) = 2sin x + sin 2 x on [0, π ]
x ⎣ 2 ⎦

10. Calculator permitted: Determine if the MVT can be applied to f ( x ) = − x4 + 4 x3 + 8x2 + 5 on [0,5] .
If so, find the values guaranteed by the theorem. Find the equation of the secant line on [0,5] and the
equation of the tangent line at any value of c found above. Sketch a graph of f ( x ) on [0,5] along
with the secant and tangent line(s).

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11. Let f satisfy the hypothesis of Rolle’s Theorem on an interval [ a, b] , such that f ʹ′ ( c ) = 0 . Using your
knowledge of transformations, find an interval, in terms of a and b, for the function g over which
Rolle’s theorem can be applied, and find the corresponding critical value of g, in terms of c. Assume k
is a non-zero constant.

(a) g ( x ) = f ( x ) + k (b) g ( x ) = f ( x − k )

(c) g ( x ) = kf ( x ) (d) g ( x ) = f ( kx )

⎧0, x = 0
12. The function f ( x ) = ⎨ is differentiable on ( 0,1) and satisfies f ( 0 ) = f (1) . However,
⎩1 − x, 0 < x ≤ 1
its derivative is never zero on ( 0,1) . Does this contradict Rolle’s Theorem? Explain.

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13. Determine the values of a, b, and c such that the function f satisfies the hypothesis of the MVT on the
interval [0,3] .
⎧1, x=0
⎪
f ( x ) = ⎨ax + b, 0 < x ≤1
⎪ 2
⎩ x + 4 x + c, 1 < x ≤ 3

14. Suppose that we know that f ( x ) is continuous and differentiable on [6,15] . Let’s also suppose that
we know that f ( 6 ) = −2 and that f ʹ′ ( x ) ≤ 10 for all x ∈ [6,15]. What is the largest possible value for
f (15)?

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15. The figure below shows two parts of the graph of a continuous differentiable function f on [ −10, 4].
The derivative f ʹ′ is also continuous.

(a) Explain why f must have at least on zero in [ −10, 4].

(b) Explain why f ʹ′ must also have at least one zero in the interval [ −10, 4]. What are these zeros
called?

(c) Make a possible sketch of the function with one zero of f ʹ′ on the interval [ −10, 4].

(d) Make a possible sketch of the function with at least two zeros of f ʹ′ on the interval [ −10, 4].

(e) Were the conditions of continuity of f and f ʹ′ necessary to do parts (a) through (d)? Explain.

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