# cts fnc on a closed interval

• December 19th 2009, 10:09 AM
flower3
cts fnc on a closed interval
$suppose \ that \ f:[a.b] \to R \ is \ continuous \ with \ f(x)>0 \ , \forall x \in \ [a,b]$ $. prove \ that \ \exists m>0 \ such \ that \ f(x) \geq m , \forall x \in [a,b]$
• December 19th 2009, 10:21 AM
Plato
Quote:

Originally Posted by flower3
$suppose \ that \ f:[a.b] \to R \ is \ continuous \ with \ f(x)>0 \ , \forall x \in \ [a,b]$ $. prove \ that \ \exists m>0 \ such \ that \ f(x) \geq m , \forall x \in [a,b]$

Use the high-point/low-point theorem.
• December 19th 2009, 10:24 AM
tonio
Quote:

Originally Posted by flower3
$suppose \ that \ f:[a.b] \to R \ is \ continuous \ with \ f(x)>0 \ , \forall x \in \ [a,b]$ $. prove \ that \ \exists m>0 \ such \ that \ f(x) \geq m , \forall x \in [a,b]$

Supose not; then for any $n\in\mathbb{N}\,\,\,\exists\,x_n\in [a,b]\,\,\,s.t.\,\,\,f(x_n)<\frac{1}{n}$,

Now use the continuity of the function on the sequence $\{x_n\}$ to reach a contradiction...

Tonio
• December 19th 2009, 09:31 PM
Drexel28
Quote:

Originally Posted by flower3
$suppose \ that \ f:[a.b] \to R \ is \ continuous \ with \ f(x)>0 \ , \forall x \in \ [a,b]$ $. prove \ that \ \exists m>0 \ such \ that \ f(x) \geq m , \forall x \in [a,b]$

Accidental post.
• December 19th 2009, 09:37 PM
Drexel28
Quote:

Originally Posted by flower3
$suppose \ that \ f:[a.b] \to R \ is \ continuous \ with \ f(x)>0 \ , \forall x \in \ [a,b]$ $. prove \ that \ \exists m>0 \ such \ that \ f(x) \geq m , \forall x \in [a,b]$

Alternatively to tonio's and most likely what Plato was hinting at. Since $[a,b]$ is closed and bounded (compact) and $f$ is continuous we have it that $f\left([a,b]\right)$ is closed and bounded (compact). Thus, $\inf\text{ }f\left([a,b]\right)=\alpha$ exists and is in $f\left([a,b]\right)$. Now since $\alpha\in f\left([a,b]\right)$ it follows that $\alpha>0$, but by the Archimedean principle we know there exists some $n\in\mathbb{N}$ such that $\frac{1}{n}<\alpha$, and the conclusion follows.