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One Real Solution for x³ + e^x = 0

The document demonstrates that the equation x3 + ex = 0 has exactly one real solution by applying the Intermediate Value Theorem to establish the existence of a solution and using Rolle’s Theorem to prove the uniqueness of that solution. The function f(x) = x3 + ex is continuous and differentiable, with f(-1) < 0 and f(0) > 0 indicating a root exists in the interval [-1, 0]. The derivative f'(x) is always positive, confirming that no additional solutions can exist, thus concluding there is only one real solution.

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3 views1 page

One Real Solution for x³ + e^x = 0

The document demonstrates that the equation x3 + ex = 0 has exactly one real solution by applying the Intermediate Value Theorem to establish the existence of a solution and using Rolle’s Theorem to prove the uniqueness of that solution. The function f(x) = x3 + ex is continuous and differentiable, with f(-1) < 0 and f(0) > 0 indicating a root exists in the interval [-1, 0]. The derivative f'(x) is always positive, confirming that no additional solutions can exist, thus concluding there is only one real solution.

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siokengin01
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EXAMPLE: PROBLEM 4.2.

18 MEAN VALUE THEOREM

110.109 CALCULUS I (PHYS SCI & ENG)


PROFESSOR RICHARD BROWN

Question 1. Show the equation x3 + ex = 0 has exactly one real solution.

Strategy: We need to do two things here. First, we show that the equation has a solution. Then
we will need to show that there cannot be two solutions. We will use the Intermediate Value
Theorem for the existence of a solution, and Rolle’s Theorem (or the MVT) for the fact that there
is only one. Our strategy will include the idea that for the function f (x) = x3 + ex , this problem
is equivalent to saying that the graph of f (x) has only one x-intercept.

Solution: First note that the function f (x) = x3 +ex is differentiable on all of R, since it is the sum
of two differentiable functions, a polynomial and the exponential function. Hence it is continuous.
Grabbing the two input values x = −1 and x = 0, we see that f (−1) = (−1)3 + e−1 = −1 + 1e < 0,
and f (0) = (0)3 + e0 = 1 > 0. Hence by the Intermediate Value Theorem, we know that there must
be a number c ∈ [−1, 0], where f (c) = 0. But this is our solution to the original equation. Hence a
solution exists.
So call c our solution to the original equation and suppose there exists another one; Call this one
d. Then either d > c or d < c. It really won’t matter for our discussion, so assume d > c. Then
f (x) is a continuous function on [c, d] and differentiable on (c, d) (it is differentiable everywhere,
actually). By Rolle’s Theorem, there then must exist a point r ∈ (c, d), where f ′ (r) = 0. However,
we have
f ′ (x) = 3x2 + ex > 0
for all x ∈ R. Thus, like our example in class, there cannot be a point r ∈ (c, d), where f ′ (r) = 0.
So our assumption that there is a second solution to the original equation is incorrect. Thus there
is only one real solution to x3 + ex = 0.

Date: November 8, 2011.


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