How can I demonstrate that a continuous decreasing function in $Bbb R$ has a fixed point?












1












$begingroup$


I am trying to demonstrate that a continuous decreasing function $f: Bbb R → Bbb R$ has a fixed point. I tried to use a function $g(x) = f(x) - x$, which should be a decreasing one, but I don't know how to obtain a point of $g$ that is $0$.










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$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Intermediate value theorem.
    $endgroup$
    – T. Bongers
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:29










  • $begingroup$
    Welcome to Maths SX! No other hypothesis on $f$?
    $endgroup$
    – Bernard
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:32










  • $begingroup$
    @Bernard What for?
    $endgroup$
    – Did
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:53
















1












$begingroup$


I am trying to demonstrate that a continuous decreasing function $f: Bbb R → Bbb R$ has a fixed point. I tried to use a function $g(x) = f(x) - x$, which should be a decreasing one, but I don't know how to obtain a point of $g$ that is $0$.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Intermediate value theorem.
    $endgroup$
    – T. Bongers
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:29










  • $begingroup$
    Welcome to Maths SX! No other hypothesis on $f$?
    $endgroup$
    – Bernard
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:32










  • $begingroup$
    @Bernard What for?
    $endgroup$
    – Did
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:53














1












1








1





$begingroup$


I am trying to demonstrate that a continuous decreasing function $f: Bbb R → Bbb R$ has a fixed point. I tried to use a function $g(x) = f(x) - x$, which should be a decreasing one, but I don't know how to obtain a point of $g$ that is $0$.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




I am trying to demonstrate that a continuous decreasing function $f: Bbb R → Bbb R$ has a fixed point. I tried to use a function $g(x) = f(x) - x$, which should be a decreasing one, but I don't know how to obtain a point of $g$ that is $0$.







analysis functions continuity






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edited Dec 3 '18 at 0:41









Jean-Claude Arbaut

14.7k63464




14.7k63464










asked Dec 2 '18 at 23:28









Marco GutiérrezMarco Gutiérrez

153




153








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Intermediate value theorem.
    $endgroup$
    – T. Bongers
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:29










  • $begingroup$
    Welcome to Maths SX! No other hypothesis on $f$?
    $endgroup$
    – Bernard
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:32










  • $begingroup$
    @Bernard What for?
    $endgroup$
    – Did
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:53














  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Intermediate value theorem.
    $endgroup$
    – T. Bongers
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:29










  • $begingroup$
    Welcome to Maths SX! No other hypothesis on $f$?
    $endgroup$
    – Bernard
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:32










  • $begingroup$
    @Bernard What for?
    $endgroup$
    – Did
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:53








1




1




$begingroup$
Intermediate value theorem.
$endgroup$
– T. Bongers
Dec 2 '18 at 23:29




$begingroup$
Intermediate value theorem.
$endgroup$
– T. Bongers
Dec 2 '18 at 23:29












$begingroup$
Welcome to Maths SX! No other hypothesis on $f$?
$endgroup$
– Bernard
Dec 2 '18 at 23:32




$begingroup$
Welcome to Maths SX! No other hypothesis on $f$?
$endgroup$
– Bernard
Dec 2 '18 at 23:32












$begingroup$
@Bernard What for?
$endgroup$
– Did
Dec 2 '18 at 23:53




$begingroup$
@Bernard What for?
$endgroup$
– Did
Dec 2 '18 at 23:53










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















2












$begingroup$

$g(x) geq f(0)-x$ for $x<0$ so $g(x) to infty$ as $x to -infty$. Similarly, $g(x) leq f(0)-x to -infty$ as $x to infty$. By IVP we get $g(x)=x$ for some $x$.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Your example is not sound. For $g(x)=-frac 12 x$ we get $g(x)ge g(0)-ximplies -frac 12 x ge -x implies xge 0$, which is a contradiction with $x<0$.
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:38










  • $begingroup$
    @IlikeSerena Did you read the question properly? If $g(x)=-frac 1 2 x$ then $f(x)=frac 1 2 x$ but it is given that $f$ is decreasing.
    $endgroup$
    – Kavi Rama Murthy
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:40












  • $begingroup$
    Ah okay. Still, with $g(x)=x$, we don't have $f(x)=x$. Did you intend $g(x)=0$?
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:44












  • $begingroup$
    @IlikeSerena I really don't understand what you are saying. I am not defining any function. $f$ and $g$ are both given, We cannot have $g(x)=x$ because of the same reason I gave earlier.
    $endgroup$
    – Kavi Rama Murthy
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:52










  • $begingroup$
    I'm saying that you have a typo in your answer, which makes it confusing.
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 3 '18 at 0:28



















1












$begingroup$

Introducing the fhe function $g:xmapsto f(x)-x$ is not necessary. Instead, consider $a=f(0)$.




  • If $a=0$, we are done.

  • If $a>0$, note that $f(a)leqslant f(0)=a$ since $a>0$ and $f$ is nonincreasing on $[0,a]$. Thus, $f(0)>0$ and $f(a)leqslant a$. By the intermediate value theorem, there exists some $x$ in $(0,a]$ such that $f(x)=x$.

  • If $a<0$, note that $f(a)geqslant f(0)=a$ since $a<0$ and $f$ is nonincreasing on $[a,0]$. Thus, $f(0)<0$ and $f(a)geqslant a$. By the intermediate value theorem, there exists some $x$ in $[a,0)$ such that $f(x)=x$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    You are implicitly using $g(x)=f(x)-x$. Otherwise, from $a=f(0)>0$ and $f(a)le a$, the IVT would only tell you $f$ takes all values in $[f(a),f(0)]$.
    $endgroup$
    – Jean-Claude Arbaut
    Dec 3 '18 at 0:38













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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









2












$begingroup$

$g(x) geq f(0)-x$ for $x<0$ so $g(x) to infty$ as $x to -infty$. Similarly, $g(x) leq f(0)-x to -infty$ as $x to infty$. By IVP we get $g(x)=x$ for some $x$.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Your example is not sound. For $g(x)=-frac 12 x$ we get $g(x)ge g(0)-ximplies -frac 12 x ge -x implies xge 0$, which is a contradiction with $x<0$.
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:38










  • $begingroup$
    @IlikeSerena Did you read the question properly? If $g(x)=-frac 1 2 x$ then $f(x)=frac 1 2 x$ but it is given that $f$ is decreasing.
    $endgroup$
    – Kavi Rama Murthy
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:40












  • $begingroup$
    Ah okay. Still, with $g(x)=x$, we don't have $f(x)=x$. Did you intend $g(x)=0$?
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:44












  • $begingroup$
    @IlikeSerena I really don't understand what you are saying. I am not defining any function. $f$ and $g$ are both given, We cannot have $g(x)=x$ because of the same reason I gave earlier.
    $endgroup$
    – Kavi Rama Murthy
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:52










  • $begingroup$
    I'm saying that you have a typo in your answer, which makes it confusing.
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 3 '18 at 0:28
















2












$begingroup$

$g(x) geq f(0)-x$ for $x<0$ so $g(x) to infty$ as $x to -infty$. Similarly, $g(x) leq f(0)-x to -infty$ as $x to infty$. By IVP we get $g(x)=x$ for some $x$.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Your example is not sound. For $g(x)=-frac 12 x$ we get $g(x)ge g(0)-ximplies -frac 12 x ge -x implies xge 0$, which is a contradiction with $x<0$.
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:38










  • $begingroup$
    @IlikeSerena Did you read the question properly? If $g(x)=-frac 1 2 x$ then $f(x)=frac 1 2 x$ but it is given that $f$ is decreasing.
    $endgroup$
    – Kavi Rama Murthy
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:40












  • $begingroup$
    Ah okay. Still, with $g(x)=x$, we don't have $f(x)=x$. Did you intend $g(x)=0$?
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:44












  • $begingroup$
    @IlikeSerena I really don't understand what you are saying. I am not defining any function. $f$ and $g$ are both given, We cannot have $g(x)=x$ because of the same reason I gave earlier.
    $endgroup$
    – Kavi Rama Murthy
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:52










  • $begingroup$
    I'm saying that you have a typo in your answer, which makes it confusing.
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 3 '18 at 0:28














2












2








2





$begingroup$

$g(x) geq f(0)-x$ for $x<0$ so $g(x) to infty$ as $x to -infty$. Similarly, $g(x) leq f(0)-x to -infty$ as $x to infty$. By IVP we get $g(x)=x$ for some $x$.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$



$g(x) geq f(0)-x$ for $x<0$ so $g(x) to infty$ as $x to -infty$. Similarly, $g(x) leq f(0)-x to -infty$ as $x to infty$. By IVP we get $g(x)=x$ for some $x$.







share|cite|improve this answer














share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer








edited Dec 3 '18 at 0:30

























answered Dec 2 '18 at 23:33









Kavi Rama MurthyKavi Rama Murthy

53.9k32055




53.9k32055












  • $begingroup$
    Your example is not sound. For $g(x)=-frac 12 x$ we get $g(x)ge g(0)-ximplies -frac 12 x ge -x implies xge 0$, which is a contradiction with $x<0$.
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:38










  • $begingroup$
    @IlikeSerena Did you read the question properly? If $g(x)=-frac 1 2 x$ then $f(x)=frac 1 2 x$ but it is given that $f$ is decreasing.
    $endgroup$
    – Kavi Rama Murthy
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:40












  • $begingroup$
    Ah okay. Still, with $g(x)=x$, we don't have $f(x)=x$. Did you intend $g(x)=0$?
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:44












  • $begingroup$
    @IlikeSerena I really don't understand what you are saying. I am not defining any function. $f$ and $g$ are both given, We cannot have $g(x)=x$ because of the same reason I gave earlier.
    $endgroup$
    – Kavi Rama Murthy
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:52










  • $begingroup$
    I'm saying that you have a typo in your answer, which makes it confusing.
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 3 '18 at 0:28


















  • $begingroup$
    Your example is not sound. For $g(x)=-frac 12 x$ we get $g(x)ge g(0)-ximplies -frac 12 x ge -x implies xge 0$, which is a contradiction with $x<0$.
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:38










  • $begingroup$
    @IlikeSerena Did you read the question properly? If $g(x)=-frac 1 2 x$ then $f(x)=frac 1 2 x$ but it is given that $f$ is decreasing.
    $endgroup$
    – Kavi Rama Murthy
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:40












  • $begingroup$
    Ah okay. Still, with $g(x)=x$, we don't have $f(x)=x$. Did you intend $g(x)=0$?
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:44












  • $begingroup$
    @IlikeSerena I really don't understand what you are saying. I am not defining any function. $f$ and $g$ are both given, We cannot have $g(x)=x$ because of the same reason I gave earlier.
    $endgroup$
    – Kavi Rama Murthy
    Dec 2 '18 at 23:52










  • $begingroup$
    I'm saying that you have a typo in your answer, which makes it confusing.
    $endgroup$
    – I like Serena
    Dec 3 '18 at 0:28
















$begingroup$
Your example is not sound. For $g(x)=-frac 12 x$ we get $g(x)ge g(0)-ximplies -frac 12 x ge -x implies xge 0$, which is a contradiction with $x<0$.
$endgroup$
– I like Serena
Dec 2 '18 at 23:38




$begingroup$
Your example is not sound. For $g(x)=-frac 12 x$ we get $g(x)ge g(0)-ximplies -frac 12 x ge -x implies xge 0$, which is a contradiction with $x<0$.
$endgroup$
– I like Serena
Dec 2 '18 at 23:38












$begingroup$
@IlikeSerena Did you read the question properly? If $g(x)=-frac 1 2 x$ then $f(x)=frac 1 2 x$ but it is given that $f$ is decreasing.
$endgroup$
– Kavi Rama Murthy
Dec 2 '18 at 23:40






$begingroup$
@IlikeSerena Did you read the question properly? If $g(x)=-frac 1 2 x$ then $f(x)=frac 1 2 x$ but it is given that $f$ is decreasing.
$endgroup$
– Kavi Rama Murthy
Dec 2 '18 at 23:40














$begingroup$
Ah okay. Still, with $g(x)=x$, we don't have $f(x)=x$. Did you intend $g(x)=0$?
$endgroup$
– I like Serena
Dec 2 '18 at 23:44






$begingroup$
Ah okay. Still, with $g(x)=x$, we don't have $f(x)=x$. Did you intend $g(x)=0$?
$endgroup$
– I like Serena
Dec 2 '18 at 23:44














$begingroup$
@IlikeSerena I really don't understand what you are saying. I am not defining any function. $f$ and $g$ are both given, We cannot have $g(x)=x$ because of the same reason I gave earlier.
$endgroup$
– Kavi Rama Murthy
Dec 2 '18 at 23:52




$begingroup$
@IlikeSerena I really don't understand what you are saying. I am not defining any function. $f$ and $g$ are both given, We cannot have $g(x)=x$ because of the same reason I gave earlier.
$endgroup$
– Kavi Rama Murthy
Dec 2 '18 at 23:52












$begingroup$
I'm saying that you have a typo in your answer, which makes it confusing.
$endgroup$
– I like Serena
Dec 3 '18 at 0:28




$begingroup$
I'm saying that you have a typo in your answer, which makes it confusing.
$endgroup$
– I like Serena
Dec 3 '18 at 0:28











1












$begingroup$

Introducing the fhe function $g:xmapsto f(x)-x$ is not necessary. Instead, consider $a=f(0)$.




  • If $a=0$, we are done.

  • If $a>0$, note that $f(a)leqslant f(0)=a$ since $a>0$ and $f$ is nonincreasing on $[0,a]$. Thus, $f(0)>0$ and $f(a)leqslant a$. By the intermediate value theorem, there exists some $x$ in $(0,a]$ such that $f(x)=x$.

  • If $a<0$, note that $f(a)geqslant f(0)=a$ since $a<0$ and $f$ is nonincreasing on $[a,0]$. Thus, $f(0)<0$ and $f(a)geqslant a$. By the intermediate value theorem, there exists some $x$ in $[a,0)$ such that $f(x)=x$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    You are implicitly using $g(x)=f(x)-x$. Otherwise, from $a=f(0)>0$ and $f(a)le a$, the IVT would only tell you $f$ takes all values in $[f(a),f(0)]$.
    $endgroup$
    – Jean-Claude Arbaut
    Dec 3 '18 at 0:38


















1












$begingroup$

Introducing the fhe function $g:xmapsto f(x)-x$ is not necessary. Instead, consider $a=f(0)$.




  • If $a=0$, we are done.

  • If $a>0$, note that $f(a)leqslant f(0)=a$ since $a>0$ and $f$ is nonincreasing on $[0,a]$. Thus, $f(0)>0$ and $f(a)leqslant a$. By the intermediate value theorem, there exists some $x$ in $(0,a]$ such that $f(x)=x$.

  • If $a<0$, note that $f(a)geqslant f(0)=a$ since $a<0$ and $f$ is nonincreasing on $[a,0]$. Thus, $f(0)<0$ and $f(a)geqslant a$. By the intermediate value theorem, there exists some $x$ in $[a,0)$ such that $f(x)=x$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    You are implicitly using $g(x)=f(x)-x$. Otherwise, from $a=f(0)>0$ and $f(a)le a$, the IVT would only tell you $f$ takes all values in $[f(a),f(0)]$.
    $endgroup$
    – Jean-Claude Arbaut
    Dec 3 '18 at 0:38
















1












1








1





$begingroup$

Introducing the fhe function $g:xmapsto f(x)-x$ is not necessary. Instead, consider $a=f(0)$.




  • If $a=0$, we are done.

  • If $a>0$, note that $f(a)leqslant f(0)=a$ since $a>0$ and $f$ is nonincreasing on $[0,a]$. Thus, $f(0)>0$ and $f(a)leqslant a$. By the intermediate value theorem, there exists some $x$ in $(0,a]$ such that $f(x)=x$.

  • If $a<0$, note that $f(a)geqslant f(0)=a$ since $a<0$ and $f$ is nonincreasing on $[a,0]$. Thus, $f(0)<0$ and $f(a)geqslant a$. By the intermediate value theorem, there exists some $x$ in $[a,0)$ such that $f(x)=x$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$



Introducing the fhe function $g:xmapsto f(x)-x$ is not necessary. Instead, consider $a=f(0)$.




  • If $a=0$, we are done.

  • If $a>0$, note that $f(a)leqslant f(0)=a$ since $a>0$ and $f$ is nonincreasing on $[0,a]$. Thus, $f(0)>0$ and $f(a)leqslant a$. By the intermediate value theorem, there exists some $x$ in $(0,a]$ such that $f(x)=x$.

  • If $a<0$, note that $f(a)geqslant f(0)=a$ since $a<0$ and $f$ is nonincreasing on $[a,0]$. Thus, $f(0)<0$ and $f(a)geqslant a$. By the intermediate value theorem, there exists some $x$ in $[a,0)$ such that $f(x)=x$.







share|cite|improve this answer












share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer










answered Dec 2 '18 at 23:53









DidDid

247k23222457




247k23222457












  • $begingroup$
    You are implicitly using $g(x)=f(x)-x$. Otherwise, from $a=f(0)>0$ and $f(a)le a$, the IVT would only tell you $f$ takes all values in $[f(a),f(0)]$.
    $endgroup$
    – Jean-Claude Arbaut
    Dec 3 '18 at 0:38




















  • $begingroup$
    You are implicitly using $g(x)=f(x)-x$. Otherwise, from $a=f(0)>0$ and $f(a)le a$, the IVT would only tell you $f$ takes all values in $[f(a),f(0)]$.
    $endgroup$
    – Jean-Claude Arbaut
    Dec 3 '18 at 0:38


















$begingroup$
You are implicitly using $g(x)=f(x)-x$. Otherwise, from $a=f(0)>0$ and $f(a)le a$, the IVT would only tell you $f$ takes all values in $[f(a),f(0)]$.
$endgroup$
– Jean-Claude Arbaut
Dec 3 '18 at 0:38






$begingroup$
You are implicitly using $g(x)=f(x)-x$. Otherwise, from $a=f(0)>0$ and $f(a)le a$, the IVT would only tell you $f$ takes all values in $[f(a),f(0)]$.
$endgroup$
– Jean-Claude Arbaut
Dec 3 '18 at 0:38




















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