University Calculus: Early Transcendentals (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321999584
ISBN 13: 978-0-32199-958-0

Chapter 4 - Section 4.2 - The Mean Value Theorem - Exercises - Page 223: 19

Answer

See proof below ( $f'$ can not have more than one zero.) Also, $f'$ can not have more than one zero in the case when $f''\lt 0.$

Work Step by Step

$f''$ is defined on $[a,b] \Rightarrow f'$ is continuous on $[a,b]$ . Let $f''$ be positive (nonzero) on $[a,b].$ $\text{Assumption:}$ $f'$ has more than one zero in $[a,b]$. Take two of the zeros $z_{1}$ and $z_{2},$ and apply Rolle's theorem on $f'(x)$ over $[z_{1},z_{2}].$ By the theorem, there exists a $c\in(z_{1},z_{2})$ such that $f''(c)=0$. This is a contradiction with $\qquad f''(x)\gt 0 $ for all x in $[a,b]$. So, the assumption was wrong. $f'$ can not have more than one zero. In the case where $f''$ is negative (nonzero) on $[a,b]$, the same assumption as above would also lead to a contradiction, proving that $f'$ can not have more than one zero in this case as well.
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