If $f(x)\to 0$ as $x\to\infty$ and $f''$ is bounded, show that $f'(x)\to0$ as $x\to\infty$

Let $f\colon\mathbb R\to\mathbb R$ be twice differentiable with $f(x)\to 0$ as $x\to\infty$ and $f''$ bounded. Show that $f'(x)\to0$ as $x\to\infty$. (This is inspired by a comment/answer to a different question)

Solution 1:

Let $|f''|\le 2M$ on $\mathbb R$ for some $M>0$. By Taylor's expansion, for every $x\in\mathbb R$ and every $\delta>0$, there exists $y\in[x,x+\delta]$, such that $$f(x+\delta)=f(x)+f'(x)\delta+\frac{1}{2}f''(y)\delta^2.$$ It follows that $$|f(x+\delta)-f(x)-f'(x)\delta|\le M\delta^2.\tag{1}$$ Since $\lim_{x\to\infty}f(x)=0$, fixing $\delta>0$ and letting $x\to\infty$ in $(1)$, we have $$\limsup_{x\to\infty}|f'(x)|\le M\delta.$$ Since $\delta>0$ is arbitrary, the conclusion follows.

Solution 2:

Let me just mention that proposed fact immediately follows from Landau-Kolmogorov inequality which in this particular case reduces to $$\|f'\|^2_{L_{\infty}{\mathbb{(R)}}}\le 4\|f\|_{L_{\infty}{\mathbb{(R)}}}\|f''\|_{L_{\infty}{\mathbb{(R)}}}$$