Name: ____________________________________________________ Period: ____________ Date:_____________
CALC NOTES: Rolle’s Theorem & Mean Value Theorem
Note that :
1) The Extreme Value Theorem states that a continuous function on a closed interval
a, b must have both a minimum and maximum on the interval. Both of these values
can occur at the endpoints.
2) Rolle’s Theorem gives conditions that guarantee the existence of an extreme value in
the INTERIOR of a closed interval.
From Rolle’s Theorem, if
a) a function f is continuous on
a, b ,
b) differentiatiable on  a, b  and if
c) f (a)  f (b)
There must be at least one x-value
between a and b at which the
graph of f has a horizontal tangent
Dropping the differentiability
requirement from Rolle’s Theorem,
f will still have a critical number in
 a, b  but it may not yield a horizontal
tangent.
EXAMPLE 1:
EXAMPLE 2:
Graph for EXAMPLE 1 (Rolle’s)
Graph for EXAMPLE 2 (Rolle’s)
GEOMETRICALLY,
the Mean Value Theorem
guarantees the existence of a
tangent line that is parallel to
the secant line through the
points
 a, f (a)
and b, f (b) 
EXAMPLE 1:
EXAMPLE 2:
EXAMPLE 3:
EXAMPLE 4:
Graph for EXAMPLE 1 (MVT)
Graph for EXAMPLE 4 (MVT)