Problem: Write the definition of an upper bound, lower bound, least upper bound (supremum) and greatest lower bound (infimum). Let $A$ be a nonempty subset of $\mathbb{R} $. Let $\alpha $ and $\beta $ be least upper bound (LUB) and greatest lower bound (GLB) respectively. Then show the following.
- $\beta \leq \alpha $.
- LUB and GLB, if exists, for a nonempty set is unique.
Solution: Let $A$ be a nonempty subset of $\mathbb{R} $.
-
Upper bound: We say that $\alpha $ is an upper bound of $A$ if for every $a\in A,~a\leq \alpha $. In terms of quantifiers
\[
\forall a\in A,~a\leq \alpha.
\]
-
Lower bound: We say that $\beta $ is a lower bound of $A$ if for every $a\in A,~\beta \leq a$. In terms of quantifiers
\[
\forall a\in A,~\beta \leq a.
\]
-
Least upper bound: We say that $\alpha$ is a least upper bound of $A$ if
-
$\alpha $ is an upper bound of $A$ and
-
If $\beta $ is an upper bound of $A$, then $\alpha \leq \beta $ ( that is, least among all upper bounds).
There is an equivalent definition in terms of $\varepsilon $.
\[
\forall~ \varepsilon >0, ~\exists ~a \in A \text{ such that } \alpha -\varepsilon < a.
\]
-
Greatest lower bound: We say that $\beta$ is a greatest lower bound of $A$ if
-
$\beta $ is a lower bound of $A$ and
-
If $\alpha $ is a lower bound of $A$, then $\alpha \leq \beta $ ( that is, greatest among all lower bounds).
There is an equivalent definition in terms of $\varepsilon $.
\[
\forall~ \varepsilon >0, ~\exists ~a \in A \text{ such that } a < \beta + \varepsilon.
\]
-
Given that $\alpha $ is a least upper bound of $A$ and $\beta $ is a greatest lower bound of $A$. We need to show that $\beta \leq \alpha $. Note that for any $a\in A$ we have
\[
\beta \leq a \leq \alpha \implies \beta \leq \alpha .
\]
-
At first we will show that LUB of $A$ is unique. Let $\alpha $ and $\alpha ^\prime $ be two LUBs of $A$. Since $\alpha $ is an LUB and $\alpha ^\prime$ is an upper bound so we must have
\begin{equation}\label{eq:06Mar2023-1}
\alpha \leq \alpha ^\prime .
\end{equation}
Similarly, $\alpha ^\prime $ is an LUB and $\alpha $ is an upper bound implies
\begin{equation}\label{eq:06Mar2023-2}
\alpha ^\prime \leq \alpha .
\end{equation}
Using, \eqref{eq:06Mar2023-1} and \eqref{eq:06Mar2023-2}, we conclude that $\alpha =\alpha ^\prime $ and hence we can use ‘the’ LUB of $A$.
Now we will show that GLB of $A$ is unique. Let $\beta $ and $\beta ^\prime $ be two GLBs of $A$. Since $\beta $ is an GLB and $\beta ^\prime$ is a lower bound so we must have
\begin{equation}\label{eq:06Mar2023-3}
\beta^\prime \leq \beta.
\end{equation}
Similarly, $\beta ^\prime $ is an GLB and $\beta $ is a lower bound implies
\begin{equation}\label{eq:06Mar2023-4}
\beta \leq \beta^\prime.
\end{equation}
Using, \eqref{eq:06Mar2023-3} and \eqref{eq:06Mar2023-4}, we conclude that $\beta =\beta ^\prime $ and hence we can use ‘the’ GLB of $A$.