Verify Lagrange’s mean value theorem for the following functions on the indicated intervals. In each find a point ‘c’ in the indicated interval as stated by the Lagrange’s mean value theorem :

f(x) = tan – 1 x on [0, 1]

Lagrange’s mean value theorem states that if a function f(x) is continuous on a closed interval [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval (a, b), then there is at least one point x=c on this interval, such that


f(b)−f(a)=f′(c)(b−a)



This theorem is also known as First Mean Value Theorem.


f(x) = tan – 1 x on [0, 1]


tan – 1 x has unique value for all x between 0 and 1.


f(x) is continuous in [0, 1]


f(x) = tan – 1 x


Differentiating with respect to x:



x2 always has value greater than 0.


1 + x2 > 0


f(x) is differentiable in (0, 1)


So both the necessary conditions of Lagrange’s mean value theorem is satisfied.




f’(c)= f(1) – f(0)


f(x) = tan – 1 x


Differentiating with respect to x:



For f’(c), put the value of x=c in f’(x):



For f(1), put the value of x=1 in f(x):


f(1) = tan – 1 1



For f(0), put the value of x=0 in f(x):


f(0) = tan – 1 0


f(0) = 0


f’(c)= f(1) – f(0)










Hence, Lagrange’s mean value theorem is verified.


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