Name:_____________________________

Per:____
Date:________
C4 CW #3: The Mean Value Theorem
For each of the following graphs, draw the secant line through the two points corresponding to
the endpoints of the indicated interval. Then draw any tangent lines that are parallel to this
secant line.
g(x)
h(x)
1.
on the interval [1, 3]
2.
on the interval [1, 3]
y

Number of tangents in (1, 3) _____

3.

f (x)

on the interval [0, 3]

Number of tangents in (1, 3) ______

4.

f (x)

on the interval [0,1]

y

Number of tangents in (0, 3) ______

5.

j(x)

on the interval [1, 4]

Number of tangents in (0, 1) _____

6.

f (x)

on the interval [0, 2]

Number of tangents in (1, 4) ______

g(x)
7.
on the interval [0, 3]

Number of tangents in (0, 2) ______

g(x)
8.
on the interval [2, 4]

Number of tangents in (0, 3) ______

9.

h(x)

on the interval [3, 3]

Number of tangents in (2, 4) ______

10.

f (x)

on the interval [4, 2]

Number of tangents in (-3, 3) ______

Number of tangents in (4, 2) ____

11. Which graphs are continuous on the indicated interval [ a, b]?

12. Which graphs are not continuous on the indicated interval [ a, b]?
13. Which graphs are differentiable on the open interval ( a, b)?
14. Which graphs are not differentiable on the open interval ( a, b)?

For #15-16, write True or False for each statement. If the statement is false, provide all
possible counterexamples from #1-10.
15. If a function is continuous on a closed interval [ a, b], there is a tangent line that is parallel
to the secant line through the points with x-coordinates x=a and x=b?
_________
Counterexamples:
16. If a function is differentiable on an open interval ( a, b), there is a tangent line that is
parallel to the secant line through the points with x-coordinates x=a and x=b?
_________
Counterexamples:
Conclusion: (Fill in the blanks.)
In order to ensure that the graph of a function has a tangent line that is _________ to the
secant line, the function must be ___________________ on [a, b] and
___________________ on (a, b). For which functions do these two conditions hold?
The Mean Value Theorem is most often stated as follows:
If the function f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and differentiable on the open
interval (a, b), then there exists at least one x-value, x = c, in (a, b) for which f(c) =
f ( b )f ( a)
.
ba
Fill in the blanks for #17-18. The Mean Value Theorem can be interpreted geometrically as
follows:
f ( b )f ( a)
17.
is the ___________________ of the ____________ joining the points
ba
( _

, _ _) and ( _

_ ).

18. f(c) is the ____________________ of the line ________________ to the graph of

Y = f(x) at the point (

_ ,

_ ).

Practice in Applying the Mean Value Theorem

For each function and interval, determine if the Mean Value Theorem applies. If it does apply,
find the value of c that satisfies the conclusion of the MVT. If it does not apply, state why not.
19. g(x) = 4x3 x2 + 4 on the interval [1, 1]

20. k(x) = x3 x2 x + 1 on the interval [0, 2]

21. f(x) =

1
x1

on the interval [0, 3]

22. h(x) =

1
x +1

on the interval [0, 3]

23. w(x) =

x on the interval [1, 9]

24. v(x) = cos x sin x on the interval [0, 2]