Calculus 8th Edition

Published by Cengage
ISBN 10: 1285740629
ISBN 13: 978-1-28574-062-1

Chapter 3 - Applications of Differentiation - 3.2 The Mean Value Theorem - 3.2 Exercises - Page 220: 12

Answer

$c=\pm\frac{2\sqrt 3}{3}$

Work Step by Step

The Mean Value Theorem states that if $f$ is a continuous function over the closed interval $[a,b]$ and differentiable over the open interval $(a,b)$, then there exists at least one point $c\in(a,b)$ so that $$f′(c)=\dfrac{f(b)−f(a)}{b−a}.$$ The function $f(x)$ = $x^{3}-3x+2$ is a polynomial function, therefore continuous on $[-2, 2]$ and differentiable on $(-2, 2)$ since polynomials are continuous and differentiable on $R$. According the the Mean Value Theorem, there is at least one point $c\in(-2,2)$ so that we have: $f'(c)=\dfrac{f(2)-f(-2)}{2-(-2)}$ $f'(c)=\dfrac{[(2^3)-3(2)+2]-[(-2)^3-3(-2)+2]}{4}$ $f'(c)=\dfrac{4-0}{4}$ $f'(c)=1$ But $f'(x)=3x^2-3$, so we have: $3c^2-3=1$ $x^2=\frac{4}{3}$ $x=\pm\dfrac{2}{\sqrt 3}=\pm\dfrac{2\sqrt 3}{3}$
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