1. ## strictly monotonic

Let K be a subset of R
A function F: K--> R is said to be strictly monotonic if it is either strictly increasing or strictly decreasing. That is, one of the following 2 holds:

1.) x,y are elements in K with x<y implies that f(x)<f(y)
or
2.) x,y are elements in K with x<y implies that f(x)>f(y)

Let I be an interval in R and let f: I-->R be a continuous function.
Prove that f is one-to-one iff f is strictly monotonic.

I am having trouble starting this problem and any help would be much appreciated.

2. Originally Posted by derek walcott
Let K be a subset of R
A function F: K--> R is said to be strictly monotonic if it is either strictly increasing or strictly decreasing. That is, one of the following 2 holds:

1.) x,y are elements in K with x<y implies that f(x)<f(y)
or
2.) x,y are elements in K with x<y implies that f(x)>f(y)

Let I be an interval in R and let f: I-->R be a continuous function.
Prove that f is one-to-one iff f is strictly monotonic.

I am having trouble starting this problem and any help would be much appreciated.
Suppose that $f$ was injective and continuous. Assume for a second that $f$ was not monotonic, then what would the IVT give us as a contradiction?

Conversely, if $x\ne y$ then either $x or $y, either way we have injectivity.

3. so proving that it is an injection proves that it is also one-to-one?

4. Originally Posted by derek walcott
so proving that it is an injection proves that it is also one-to-one?
Injection means one-to-one.

5. okay that's what i thought.

and it's only injective because f is continuous. if f were not continuous then x=y and f(x) ≠ f(y) could occur?

6. Originally Posted by derek walcott
okay that's what i thought.

and it's only injective because f is continuous. if f were not continuous then x=y and f(x) ≠ f(y) could occur?
Wait, what?

7. i am trying to think of the implications of f:K-->R being continuous and not being continuous

how does the problem change? would that prove that it isn't monotonic?

8. Originally Posted by derek walcott
i am trying to think of the implications of f:K-->R being continuous and not being continuous

how does the problem change? would that prove that it isn't monotonic?
If the function is continuous and injective it is monotonic. If a function is monotonic it is automatically injective.