What is the Explanation for the Intermediate Value Theorem 2 Proof?

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If:

f is a real value function continuous over [a,b] ,a<b and f(a)<f(b)

,then prove that for all η,
f(a)<η<f(b) ,there exists an ξ ,such that : f(ξ)=η

Proof.

1)Let S be a set of all xε[a,b] such that :f(x)<η.

Since a belongs to S and b is an upper bound then S has a Supremum

2)Let ξ= SupS3) Will show that : a) $f(\xi)\geq\eta $ ,b) $ f(\xi)\leq\eta $ and hence : $f(\xi)=\eta$3a) By the definition of supremum, for every positive ε, there is a number x' of S with
$\xi-\epsilon\leq x'\leq\xi$ .
For this x', f(x')<η.
Since f is contiguous at ξ, $f(\xi)\leq\eta$ which is : 3a

3b) Any x greater than ξ is not in S and so $f(x)\geq \eta$.By continuity ,f(ξ) is the limit of f(x) as x tends to ξ through values greater than ξ ,and so :$f(\xi)\geq\eta$

I have no idea how he gets $f(\xi)\geq \eta $ in part 3b and $f(\xi)\leq\eta$ in part 3a
 
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Re: intermediate value theorem 2

solakis said:
If:

f is a real value function continuous over [a,b] ,a<b and f(a)<f(b)

,then prove that for all η,
f(a)<η<f(b) ,there exists an ξ ,such that : f(ξ)=η

Proof.

1)Let S be a set of all xε[a,b] such that :f(x)<η.

Since a belongs to S and b is an upper bound then S has a Supremum

2)Let ξ= SupS3) Will show that : a) $f(\xi)\geq\eta $ ,b) $ f(\xi)\leq\eta $ and hence : $f(\xi)=\eta$3a) By the definition of supremum, for every positive ε, there is a number x' of S with
$\xi-\epsilon\leq x'\leq\xi$ .
For this x', f(x')<η.
Since f is contiguous at ξ, $f(\xi)\leq\eta$ which is : 3a

3b) Any x greater than ξ is not in S and so $f(x)\geq \eta$.By continuity ,f(ξ) is the limit of f(x) as x tends to ξ through values greater than ξ ,and so :$f(\xi)\geq\eta$

I have no idea how he gets $f(\xi)\geq \eta $ in part 3b and $f(\xi)\leq\eta$ in part 3a

3a) [tex]f(\xi) \leq \eta[/tex]
Pick [tex]\epsilon = \eta - f(\xi)[/tex] as you should know
f is continuous at ξ that means for any [tex]\epsilon >0[/tex] there exist [tex]\delta >0[/tex]
such that whenever [tex]\mid x - \xi \mid < \delta[/tex] we have [tex]\mid f(x) - f(\xi) \mid < \epsilon[/tex]
remember that epsilon>0 so if you choose a wrong epsilon the criteria for the continuity will be affected, back to our proof after we choose epsilon sub it
[tex]\mid f(x) - f(\xi) \mid < \eta - f(\xi)[/tex]

[tex]-\eta + f(\xi) < f(x) - f(\xi) < \eta - f(\xi)[/tex]

[tex]f(x) - f(\xi) < \eta - f(\xi) \Rightarrow f(x) < \eta[/tex] for

[tex]\mid x - \xi \mid < \delta \Rightarrow \xi - \delta < x < \xi + \delta[/tex]

but [tex]\xi[/tex] is an upper bound for S, [tex]\xi < \xi +\frac{\delta}{2}[/tex]
and
[tex]\xi + \frac{\delta}{2} \in S[/tex] since
[tex]f\left(\xi + \frac{\delta}{2}\right) < \eta[/tex] but [tex]\xi[/tex] is an upper bound for S contradiction! so [tex]\eta - f(\xi)[/tex] is not positive so still two choices less than or equal zero

Lets see if [tex]f(\xi) > \eta[/tex]
f is continuous at [tex]\xi[/tex] , now pick [tex]\epsilon = f(\xi) - \eta[/tex]
there exist delta

[tex]\mid f(x) - f(\xi) \mid < f(\xi) - \eta[/tex] for [tex]\mid x - \xi \mid < \delta[/tex]

[tex]-f(\xi) + \eta < f(x) - f(\xi)[/tex]

[tex]\eta < f(x)[/tex] for [tex]\xi - \delta < x < \xi + \delta[/tex]

[tex]\xi - \delta[/tex] is in S the definition of the upper bound which means [tex]f \left(\xi - \delta \right)[/tex] should be less than [tex]\eta[/tex] not larger contradiction so our epsilon is not positive

This idea from Wiki see this
 
Last edited:
Re: intermediate value theorem 2

Amer said:
3a) [tex]f(\xi) \leq \eta[/tex]
Pick [tex]\epsilon = \eta - f(\xi)[/tex] as you should know
f is continuous at ξ that means for any [tex]\epsilon >0[/tex] there exist [tex]\delta >0[/tex]
such that whenever [tex]\mid x - \xi \mid < \delta[/tex] we have [tex]\mid f(x) - f(\xi) \mid < \epsilon[/tex]
remember that epsilon>0 so if you choose a wrong epsilon the criteria for the continuity will be affected, back to our proof after we choose epsilon sub it
[tex]\mid f(x) - f(\xi) \mid < \eta - f(\xi)[/tex]

[tex]-\eta + f(\xi) < f(x) - f(\xi) < \eta - f(\xi)[/tex]

[tex]f(x) - f(\xi) < \eta - f(\xi) \Rightarrow f(x) < \eta[/tex] for

[tex]\mid x - \xi \mid < \delta \Rightarrow \xi - \delta < x < \xi + \delta[/tex]

but [tex]\xi[/tex] is an upper bound for S, [tex]\xi < \xi +\frac{\delta}{2}[/tex]
and
[tex]\xi + \frac{\delta}{2} \in S[/tex] since
[tex]f\left(\xi + \frac{\delta}{2}\right) < \eta[/tex] but [tex]\xi[/tex] is an upper bound for S contradiction! so [tex]\eta - f(\xi)[/tex] is not positive so still two choices less than or equal zero

Lets see if [tex]f(\xi) > \eta[/tex]
f is continuous at [tex]\xi[/tex] , now pick [tex]\epsilon = f(\xi) - \eta[/tex]
there exist delta

[tex]\mid f(x) - f(\xi) \mid < f(\xi) - \eta[/tex] for [tex]\mid x - \xi \mid < \delta[/tex]

[tex]-f(\xi) + \eta < f(x) - f(\xi)[/tex]

[tex]\eta < f(x)[/tex] for [tex]\xi - \delta < x < \xi + \delta[/tex]

[tex]\xi - \delta[/tex] is in S the definition of the upper bound which means [tex]f \left(\xi - \delta \right)[/tex] should be less than [tex]\eta[/tex] not larger contradiction so our epsilon is not positive

This idea from Wiki see this

The proof you proposed is completely different from the proof i wrote in my OP.

Sorry but i am not asking for a proof of the IVT but an explanation of the OP's proof