- #1
Schaus
- 118
- 5
Homework Statement
Find the point "c" that satisfies the Mean Value Theorem For Derivatives for the function
## f(x) = \frac {x-1} {x+1}## on the interval [4,5].
Answer - c = 4.48
Homework Equations
##x = \frac {-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 -4ac}} {2a}##
##f'(c) = \frac { f(b) - f(a)} {b-a}##
The Attempt at a Solution
I found the derivative
##f'(x) = \frac {2} {(x+1)^2}##
a) ## f(4) = \frac {4-1} {4+1} = \frac {3} {5}##
b) ## f(5) = \frac {5-1} {5+1} = \frac {2} {3}##
Substituting in my values
## \frac {2} {(x+1)^2} = \frac { \frac {2} {3} - \frac {3} {5}} {5-4}##
## \frac {2} {(x+1)^2} = \frac {1} {15}##
## 30 = c^2 +2c +1##
## 0 = c^2 +2c -29##
##x = \frac {-2 \pm \sqrt{2^2 -(4)(1)(-29)}} {2(1)}##
Which gives me 3.475 and -7.475. I'm not sure where I went wrong, any help would be greatly appreciated. Neither one of there are in my interval and my solution says it needs to be 4.48.