Proof of the least upper bound

furi0n
Messages
19
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



LEt S is supset of real numbers and suppose that there is X0 is member of S such that x0>=x for all x which is member of S(i.e. x0 is the maximum of S). show that x0=supS

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution




Not: this seems too easy question but i can't understand how ı can prove it please help me it's my important homework.. :(
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Well x_0 is the maximum of x. Suppose a was an upper bound of S but a was not equal to x_0.

The a>x_0 right ?

Thus is there any upper bound smaller than x_0 ?
 
So we define x_0 as a value such that x_0>=x for all x in S. Now, suppose x_0 was not the sup of S (i.e. x_0 is not equal to supS). Well then this must imply the existence of a value b in S such that x_0 < b <= supS. Notice the contradiction? how did we define x_0 again?
 
Yes, it is an easy question! Since x_0\ge x for all x in the set, it is an upper bound on the set. Is it possible for any other upper bound to be less than x_0? No, because x_0 is in the set and saying M&lt; x_0 would contradict the definition of "upper bound".
 
thank you everybody, why i ask for this question is to learn how to prove this because we know already everything there is not anything which we can prove but today İ understood Teacher asked this Question in order to understand whether we learn to definition of least upper bound :D thank you again.
 
Back
Top