Exercise 4.5.7

Let f be a continuous function on the closed interval [ 0 , 1 ] with range also contained in [ 0 , 1 ] . Prove that f must have a fixed point; that is, show f ( x ) = x for at least one value of x [ 0 , 1 ] .

Answers

Since 0 and 1 are both in the range of f , choose a and b such that f ( a ) = 0 and f ( b ) = 1 . Define g ( x ) = f ( x ) x ; clearly g is continuous, g ( a ) = 0 a = a 0 , and g ( b ) = 1 b 0 . By IVT there must be some c [ a , b ] so that g ( c ) = 0 and hence f ( c ) = c .

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2022-01-27 00:00
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