0% found this document useful (0 votes)
86 views1 page

M4.3 Fixed Points and Ivp

This document discusses fixed points and the Intermediate Value Property (IVP) for continuous functions. 1) It shows that the equation 3x = x^2 has at least one real solution using the IVP to show the function f(x) = 3x - x^2 must be 0 for some x between -1 and 0. 2) It states the IVP can be used to show an x exists such that e^x = x (fixed point). 3) It proves any continuous function f from [0,1] to [0,1] has a fixed point c using the IVP and showing f(c) - c = 0 for some c.

Uploaded by

Jason Costanzo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
86 views1 page

M4.3 Fixed Points and Ivp

This document discusses fixed points and the Intermediate Value Property (IVP) for continuous functions. 1) It shows that the equation 3x = x^2 has at least one real solution using the IVP to show the function f(x) = 3x - x^2 must be 0 for some x between -1 and 0. 2) It states the IVP can be used to show an x exists such that e^x = x (fixed point). 3) It proves any continuous function f from [0,1] to [0,1] has a fixed point c using the IVP and showing f(c) - c = 0 for some c.

Uploaded by

Jason Costanzo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Fixed points and IVP

1. Show that 3x = x2 has at least one real solution.


Proof Let f (x) = 3x − x2 . We will show that f (x) has a real zero x0 ; a point such that
f (x0 ) = 3x0 − x20 = 0. In order to do that, we will make use o f the IVP for a continuous
function

ˆ f (x) is continuous as the sum of two continuous functions; 3x and −x2 .


ˆ f (0) = 30 − 02 = 1 > 0 and f (−1) = 3−1 − (−1)2 = 1/3 − 1 = −2/3 < 0.
ˆ By the IVP for continuous functions, f (x) must take each value between −2/3 and 1,
including 0. Thus there exists x0 ∈ [−1, 0] such that f (x0 ) = 3x0 − x20 = 0. It follows
that 3x0 = x20 . Done!

2. Show that ex = x for some point x ∈ R. (Hint: Use the IVP for continuous functions).

3. Show that any continuous function f from [0, 1] to [0, 1] has a fixed point in [0, 1]. In other
words, show that there exists a point c ∈ [0, 1] such that f (c) = c.
Proof We will use the IVP. Let g(x) = f (x) − x. Then

ˆ g is continuous as the difference of two continuous functions, f (x) (by assumption) and
x.
ˆ Notice that f (x) ≤ 1 for all x ∈ [0, 1] because the range of f is included in [0, 1]. Also,
f (x) ≥ 0 for the same reason.
ˆ it follows from step 2 that g(1) = f (1) − 1 ≤ 0 and g(0) = f (0) − 0 ≥ 0, and so the
continuous function g(x) takes on positive as well as negative values.
ˆ Step 3 and the IVP imply that g(x) must be 0 at some point in [0, 1]. Thus there exits
a c ∈ [0, 1] such that g(c) = f (c) − c = 0. So, f (c) = c for some point in [0, 1] (called
fixed point because c gets mapped onto itself under f .

4. Is the converse of the IVP true? In other words, if a function f with the property that for any
two point a and b, f (x) assumes all values between f (a) and f (b), must f (x) be continuous?
Proof No. Give a counterexample.

5. Show that any polynomial P (x) = an xn + an−1 xn−1 + · · · + a1 x + a0 is continuous. (Hint:


Use sequential continuity with appropriate limit theorems.)

You might also like