Exercises

1. Find the value or values of c that satisfy the equation

f (b) − f (a)
= f ′ (c)
b−a
(a) For f (x) = x2 + 2x − 1 on the interval [0, 4]:

f ′ (x) = 2x + 2
f (4) − f (0) (16 + 8 − 1) − (−1) 24
= = =6
4−0 4 4
6 = 2c + 2
c=2

c=2

(b) f (x) = x2/3 on the interval [0, 4]:

(c) f (x) = x + x1 on the interval 21 , 2 :
 

(d) f (x) = 2x − 1 on the interval [1, 4]:

(e) f (x) = sin−1 (x) on the interval [−1, 1]:

1
f ′ (x) = √
1 − x2
π π


f (1) − f (−1) 2 − −2 π
= =
1 − (−1) 2 2
π 1
=√
2 1 − c2
c=0

c=0
(f) f (x) = ln(x − 1) on the interval [2, 4]:

1
f ′ (x) =
x−1
f (4) − f (2) ln(3) − ln(1) ln(3)
= =
4−2 2 2
ln(3) 1
=
2 c−1
2
c=1+
ln(3)

2
c=1+
ln(3)
(g) f (x) = x3 − x2 on the interval [−1, 2]:
( 3
ex , −2 ≤ x < 0
(h) For g(x) = on the interval [−2, 2]:
x2 , 0 ≤ x ≤ 2

1
 −2 ≤ x < 0 :
3
g ′ (x) = 3x2 ex
g(0) − g(−2) 1 − e−8
=
0 − (−2) 2
−8
1 e 3
− = 3c2 ec
2 2
c ≈ −1.29
For 0 ≤ x ≤ 2 :
g ′ (x) = 2x
g(2) − g(0) 4−0
= =2
2−0 2
2 = 2c
c=1

c ≈ −1.29 or c = 1
2. Which of the following functions satisfy the hypotheses of the Mean Value Theorem on the given interval,
and which do not? Give reasons for your answers.

(a) For f (x) = x2/3 on the interval [−1, 4]:

• Continuity: f (x) is continuous on [−1, 4].
• Differentiability: f (x) is not differentiable at x = 0 because f ′ (x) = 2 −1/3
3x is undefined at
x = 0.
Conclusion: Does not satisfy the hypotheses of the MVT.
(b) For f (x) = x4/5 on the interval [0, 4]:
• Continuity: f (x) is continuous on [0, 4].
• Differentiability: f (x) is not differentiable at x = 0 because f ′ (x) = 4 −1/5
5x is undefined at
x = 0.
Conclusion: Does not satisfy the hypotheses of the MVT.
(c) For f (x) = 2x(1 − x) on the interval [0, 4]:
(
sin x
(d) For f (x) = x , −π ≤ x < 0 :
0, x=0
• Continuity: f (x) is not continuous at x = 0 because the left-hand limit and the value at x = 0
do not match.
• Differentiability: f (x) is not differentiable at x = 0.
Conclusion: Does not satisfy the hypotheses of the MVT.
( 2
ex −x , −2 ≤ x ≤ −1
(e) For f (x) = :
2x2 − 3x − 3, −1 < x ≤ 0
(
e2x−3 , 0≤x≤2
(f) For f (x) = :
6x − x2 − 7, 2 < x ≤ 3
(
ex , 0 ≤ x < 1
(g) For f (x) = :
0, x = 1

c,
 x=0
(h) For f (x) = −x2 + 3x + a, 0 < x ≤ 1 :

mx + b, 1<x≤2


• Continuity: f (x) must be continuous at x = 1 and x = 2.

• Differentiability: f (x) must be differentiable at x = 1.

2
 To satisfy the MVT on [0, 2]:

Continuity at x = 0 : c = a
Continuity at x = 1 : − 12 + 3(1) + a = m(1) + b ⇒ 2 + a = m + b
d d
Differentiability at x = 1 : (−x2 + 3x + a) = (mx + b) ⇒ −2(1) + 3 = m ⇒ m = 1
dx x=1 dx x=1

Conclusion: The function satisfies the hypotheses of the MVT for a and b such that 2 + a = 1 + b.

3. In the following exercises:

(a) Find the open intervals on which the function is increasing and decreasing.
(b) Identify the function’s local and absolute extreme values, if any, saying where they occur.

(a) g(t) = −t2 − 3t + 3

• First Derivative:
g ′ (t) = −2t − 3
• Critical Points:
3
g ′ (t) = 0 =⇒ −2t − 3 = 0 =⇒ t = −
2
• Intervals of Increase:
3
(−∞, − )
2
• Intervals of Decrease:
3
(− , ∞)
2
• Local Extrema:
   2  
3 3 3 9 9 21
g − =− − −3 − +3=− + +3=
2 2 2 4 2 4
 
3 21
Local Maximum at − ,
2 4
(b) g(t) = −3t2 + 9t + 5
• First Derivative:
g ′ (t) = −6t + 9
• Critical Points:
3
g ′ (t) = 0 =⇒ −6t + 9 = 0 =⇒ t =
2
• Intervals of Increase:
3
(−∞, )
2
• Intervals of Decrease:
3
( , ∞)
2
• Local Extrema:
   2  
3 3 3 27 27 47
g = −3 +9 +5=− + +5=
2 2 2 4 2 4
 
3 47
Local Maximum at ,
2 4
(c) h(x) = −x3 + 2x2
(d) h(x) = 2x3 − 18x
(e) f (u) = 3u2 − 4u3
(f) f (u) = 6u − u3
(g) f (r) = 3r3 + 16r
(h) h(r) = (r + 7)3
(i) f (x) = x4 − 8x2 + 16