Math 1210 Signature Assignment

The Mean Value Theorem

Completed by Nania Platt

April 5, 2019

A. Begin by making a complete statement of the mean value theorem.

The Mean Value Theorem is simply the slope of a between two points. It must follow the
following hypotheses:

1. f ​ is continuous on the closed interval ​[a,b]

2. f ​ is differentiable on the open interval ​(a,b)

Then there is a number ​c ​in (​a,b) ​such that;

d f (c)
dx =
f (b) − f (a)
b−a ​or, equivalently, f (b) − f (a) =
d f (c)
dx (b − a)

x+2
B. Consider the function f (x) = ​ n the interval [-3, 7]. Explain how this meets the
x+5 o
conditions of the Mean Value Theorem.

This meets the Mean Value Theorem because it is continuous in the interval [-3,7] because it is
a polynomial and is differentiable in the open interval (-3,7). In the domain however x =/ − 5 or
the denominator will be zero. This will be a vertical asymptote for the function and will be
prevalent in the graph shown in the later part of the project. And by knowing that the function
meets the condition for the Mean Value Theorem, we can then thus continue to solve the rest of
the process to finding values of c and find the line that satisfies conditions in the questions
below.

C. Find the average rate of change of 𝑓 (𝑥 ) on [-3, 7], and find the equation of the line
segment that connects the points (-3, f (-3)) and (7, f (7)).

To solve this, we must first take the derivative, which is the average rate of change for f(x).

x+2
f (x) = x+5 The f(x) function we start off with
d f (x) [(x+5) ×1] − [ (x+2)×1]
dx = (x+5) 2
We take the derivative of the function by the process of the
Quotient Rule and Chain Rule
 (x+5) − (x+2)
= (x+5) 2
​ Then simplify the function by multiplying 1 to the numerator for both values
5−2
= (x+5) 2
Then simplify by combining like terms, the x values cancel
because of the minus and we are left with 5-2 in the numerator.
3
= (x+5) 2
We are left with 3 in the numerator and (x+5) squared as the derivative function of f(x)

Then we need to find the values for which points (-3, f (-3)) and (7, f (7)) satisfy the equation,
which also equal the values a and b.

First we need to find f(-3) and f(7)

(−3)+2 −1
f (− 3) = (−3)+5 = 2 We need to plug in -3 into the original function
(7)+2 9 3
f (7) = (7)+5 = 12 = 4 As well as for 7 into the original function

So the two points are​ (− 3, −1 3

2 ), (7, 4 )

d f (c) f (b) − f (a)

Which we then need to plug into the function
dx = b−a
3 2 5
d f (c) f (7) − f (−3) 4− 4 5 1 5 1
dx = 7− (−3) = 7 +3 = 4
10 = 4 × 10 = 40 = 8
This is where we plug in the values and then solve the fraction by simplifying. In the end of the
simplifying we get the derivative of c to equal 18 .

And this value we found of 18 w

​ ill be useful to finding the tangent line that includes both points
(− 3, −1 3
2 ), (7, 4 ) . We can do this by using the point slope formula which is,

y − y 1 = m (x − x 1 ) Point slope formula.

1
We know m = and then we need to use one of the two points and then plug it into the Point
8
Slope formula. I will use the point (− 3, −1
2 ) .
y − ( −1 1
2 ) = 8 (x − (− 3)) Put the values of x and y into the formula

y+ 1 1 3 1
2 = 8 x + 8 Simplified by distributing 8 on the right side of the equation
1 3 4 1 4 1
y= 8 x + 8 − 8 Subtracted 2 to both sides, 8 = 2
1 1
y= 8 x − 8 ​Then simplified to get the line segment that satisfies the two points.
D. Find any numbers c, which are guaranteed by the Mean Value Theorem, and find the
equation of the tangent line to the function 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) at each value of c. Use exact values and
show all work.

By using the same slope found in the previous problem, in part C we can equal the derivative of
the function f(x) to the derivative of f(c) and then solve for x which will give us the c values to
find the tangent line.

d f (x) f (b) − f (a)

dx = b − a The two functions are set equal to each other
3 1
(x+5) 2
= 8 The functions are plugged in as we found in part C
24 = (x + 5) 2 Cross multiplied the previous equation to get the following

√(x + 5)
2
√24 = Square root both sides so the ride-hand side can cancel the
squared part of the function
± 2√6 = x + 5 Simplified the previous step and now need to solve
for x but must make sure to do ± and compare the results
− 5 ± 2√6 = x Solve for x which equals c
− 5 − 2√6 = − 9.89 = − 10 This is one value for c
− 5 + 2√6 = − 0.10 = − 0.1 This is a second value for c

Then using the values found, we need to plug them into the original function to get the y-values

f (− 5 ± 2√6) = c+2
c+5
​This is the values of c equal to the original equation
f (− 5 − 2√6) = c+2
c+5
−10+2
= −10+5 = −8
−5
= 1.6 The y-value for the negative side
c+2 −0.1+2 1.9
f (− 5 + 2√6) = c+5
= −0.1+5
= 4.9
= 0.387 = 0.39 The y-value the positive side

These values are then used to make the two possible coordinates for where the tangent line will
cross the f(x) function. Those point are;

(-10, 1.6), and (-0.1, 0.39)

We can take one of these points and put it into the point slope formula to find the tangent line.

y − y 1 = m (x − x 1 ) Point slope formula.

1
Using the point (-0.1, 0.39) we can find the tangent line as well as the slope of 8 .

y − 0.39 = 81 (x − (− 0.1)) Here we plug in the values into the function

y = 81 x + 0.0125 + 0.39 Bring the 0.39 to the right and distribute the 1
8 to the x and the 0.1.
y = 81 x + 0.40 Add like terms of 0.0125 + 0.39 to get 0.40, and this is the tangent line
for c on the function of f(x).

x+2
E. Using technology, graph the function f (x) = x+5 ​and the above lines on the same
axes. Graphing the tangent line and the equation of the line that connects the two points
in part c.

The following graph has the function of f(x) as the red part of the graph, the blue is the tangent
line that includes both points (− 3, −1 3
2 ), (7, 4 ) and the green is the line segment meets the needs
of the c values found in part D. And thus the graph shows the Mean Value Theorem and
everything that was required for the problem solved in one graph. And the various points
highlighted are to show where the tangent line intersects the function of f(x) at (-3, -0.5) and at
(7, 0.75). And the value of c point of (0, 0.4). These points both come from the equations,
y = 81 x − 1
8 and y = 81 x + 0.40 .

F. Explain in layman’s terms what the Mean Value Theorem tells us about rates of
change referring to your graph as an example.

The Mean Value Theorem is a way of coming up with a way to find a line that is parallel with two
points that are part of a graph. In the graph above the red function that is the main graph has
two points that have been solved from a interval of [-3,7]. This is where the graph lies and when
x+2
f (x) = x+5 ​to get the values of
−1
you plug in -3 and 7 into the main function of (− 3, 2 ), (7, 43 )
for the two points. It is also important to note that for the Mean Value Theorem to work that all
the values need to be continuous or in the set of values and differentiable, which means that the
d f (c) f (b)−f (a)
slope. We also need to put in the information into this formula, dx
= b−a
to get the slope of
1
c and the values of a and b are x values of the two points found. The slope was found to be​ 8
.
And with all this information we can find the correct line that passes through the two points
mentioned above and in the graph that is show to be in the blue line. We can find the green line
by using the points that are found when setting equal the differential equation to the slope and
finding the x-values. We found the points to be, (-0.1, 0.39) and that helps us to know the
formula of the of the other line segment known as the tangent to be, y = 81 x + 0.40 that is the
green line.

And so we can conclude that the Mean Value Theorem is simply if there is a function that is
continuous and differentiable everywhere in a segment then there is a c-value that exists.

G. Give one “real world” example of an application of the Mean Value Theorem. Your
example should include the meaning or purpose of the Mean Value Theorem in the given
context and an explanation of why it may be important in a real application.

This is a real life/world example of the Mean Value Theorem. I found this on the internet since I
could not come up with a real example on my own.

“You are driving on a straight highway on which the speed limit is 55 mi/h. At 8:05 A.M. a police
car clocks your velocity at 50 mi/h and at 8:10 A.M. a second police car posted 5 miles down the
road clocks your velocity at 55 mi/h. Explain why the police have a right to charge you with a
speeding violation.

So why do the police have the right to hand you a speeding ticket?

Well, you traveled 5 miles in 5 minutes, or 112hr112hr. That’s equal to 60 mi/hr. Since your
average velocity is 60 mi/hr, the Mean Value Theorem guarantees that your instantaneous
velocity was 60 mi/hr at least once in the 5 mile stretch of highway.”
(​https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-real-life-applications-of-the-mean-value-theorem​)

Sources of Help

● Mean Value Theorem website that helped me

https://www.wyzant.com/resources/lessons/math/calculus/differentiation/mean_value_th
eorem

● Finding the tangent line, reminder

http://www.coolmath.com/algebra/08-lines/12-finding-equation-two-points-02

● Real World Application website

https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-real-life-applications-of-the-mean-value-theorem

● Stewarts 8th Edition textbook

● Notes from class lectures

____________________________________________________________________________
Expectations: All signature assignments must be completely word processed, including using an
equation editor for all mathematics. Hand-written work will not be graded. All mathematical steps
must be shown and there must be narrative in place to explain your process to your reader. Any
charts or graphs will also be computer generated. Your problem will be presented in a clear and
logical way. A signature assignment should be an exposition of your finest work and
presentation.