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    Problem: Graphs of F (X) For Some Values of C

    Uploaded by

    Taghi Khaje
    The document uses Rolle's theorem to prove that the equation x4 + 4x + c = 0 has at most two real solutions. Rolle's theorem states that if a function f(x) is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval (a, b), and f(a) = f(b) = 0, then there exists at least one number c in (a, b) where f'(c) = 0. The document applies this to show that if the equation had three real solutions x1, x2, x3, then f'(a) = f'(b) = 0 would be required, but the derivative f'(x) =

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Problem: Graphs of F (X) For Some Values of C

    Uploaded by

    Taghi Khaje
    38 views1 page
    The document uses Rolle's theorem to prove that the equation x4 + 4x + c = 0 has at most two real solutions. Rolle's theorem states that if a function f(x) is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval (a, b), and f(a) = f(b) = 0, then there exists at least one number c in (a, b) where f'(c) = 0. The document applies this to show that if the equation had three real solutions x1, x2, x3, then f'(a) = f'(b) = 0 would be required, but the derivative f'(x) =

    Original Title

    RollesTheorem

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    The document uses Rolle's theorem to prove that the equation x4 + 4x + c = 0 has at most two real solutions. Rolle's theorem states that if a function f(x) is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval (a, b), and f(a) = f(b) = 0, then there exists at least one number c in (a, b) where f'(c) = 0. The document applies this to show that if the equation had three real solutions x1, x2, x3, then f'(a) = f'(b) = 0 would be required, but the derivative f'(x) =

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    38 views1 page

    Problem: Graphs of F (X) For Some Values of C

    Uploaded by

    Taghi Khaje
    The document uses Rolle's theorem to prove that the equation x4 + 4x + c = 0 has at most two real solutions. Rolle's theorem states that if a function f(x) is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval (a, b), and f(a) = f(b) = 0, then there exists at least one number c in (a, b) where f'(c) = 0. The document applies this to show that if the equation had three real solutions x1, x2, x3, then f'(a) = f'(b) = 0 would be required, but the derivative f'(x) =

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    problem

    Show that the equation x4 + 4x + c = 0 has at


    most two real solutions.

    A look at graphs of f (x) = x4 + 4x + c for some


    values of c suggests that the equation may have
    zero, one, or two roots, but no more. We can use
    Rolle’s theorem to prove this is in fact the case.

    proof
    Suppose that the equation has three or more real
    solutions. Label three of them x1 , x2 , and x3 so that

    x1 < x2 < x3 .

    Define a related function

    f (x) = x4 + 4x + c,

    and note that solutions of the given equation are


    Graphs of f(x) for some values the zeros of this function: that is,
    of c.
    f (x1 ) = f (x2 ) = f (x3 ) = 0. b

    Since f (x) is a polynomial, it is continuous and x1 x2 x3


    differentiable for all real numbers. Rolle’s theorem a
    applies, then, and according to Rolle’s theorem
    there must be a number a between x1 and x2 for
    which f  (a) = 0. Similarly, there must be a num-
    ber b between x2 and x3 for which f  (b) = 0.
    Observe though:

    f  (x) = 0 : 4x3 + 4 = 0 The implications of Rolle’s Theo-


    3 rem: if there are three zeros, there
    4(x + 1) = 0
    must be two critical points.
    x3 + 1 = 0
    x3 = −1
    x = −1.

    The derivative is only zero when x = −1. This falls


    short of the required two solutions. Therefore, the
    equation can have at most two real roots.

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