Least-upper-bound property

In mathematics, the least-upper-bound property (sometimes called completeness, supremum property or l.u.b. property)^[1] is a fundamental property of the real numbers. More generally, a partially ordered set X has the least-upper-bound property if every non-empty subset of X with an upper bound has a least upper bound (supremum) in X. Not every (partially) ordered set has the least upper bound property. For example, the set ${\displaystyle \mathbb {Q} }$ of all rational numbers with its natural order does not have the least upper bound property.

The least-upper-bound property is one form of the completeness axiom for the real numbers, and is sometimes referred to as Dedekind completeness.^[2] It can be used to prove many of the fundamental results of real analysis, such as the intermediate value theorem, the Bolzano–Weierstrass theorem, the extreme value theorem, and the Heine–Borel theorem. It is usually taken as an axiom in synthetic constructions of the real numbers, and it is also intimately related to the construction of the real numbers using Dedekind cuts.

In order theory, this property can be generalized to a notion of completeness for any partially ordered set. A linearly ordered set that is dense and has the least upper bound property is called a linear continuum.

Let S be a non-empty set of real numbers.

• A real number x is called an upper bound for S if x ≥ s for all s ∈ S.
• A real number x is the least upper bound (or supremum) for S if x is an upper bound for S and x ≤ y for every upper bound y of S.

The least-upper-bound property states that any non-empty set of real numbers that has an upper bound must have a least upper bound in real numbers.

More generally, one may define upper bound and least upper bound for any subset of a partially ordered set X, with “real number” replaced by “element of X”. In this case, we say that X has the least-upper-bound property if every non-empty subset of X with an upper bound has a least upper bound in X.

For example, the set Q of rational numbers does not have the least-upper-bound property under the usual order. For instance, the set

${\displaystyle \left\{x\in \mathbf {Q} :x^{2}\leq 2\right\}=\mathbf {Q} \cap \left(-{\sqrt {2}},{\sqrt {2}}\right)}$

has an upper bound in Q, but does not have a least upper bound in Q (since the square root of two is irrational). The construction of the real numbers using Dedekind cuts takes advantage of this failure by defining the irrational numbers as the least upper bounds of certain subsets of the rationals.

The least-upper-bound property is equivalent to other forms of the completeness axiom, such as the convergence of Cauchy sequences or the nested intervals theorem. The logical status of the property depends on the construction of the real numbers used: in the synthetic approach, the property is usually taken as an axiom for the real numbers (see least upper bound axiom); in a constructive approach, the property must be proved as a theorem, either directly from the construction or as a consequence of some other form of completeness.

It is possible to prove the least-upper-bound property using the assumption that every Cauchy sequence of real numbers converges. Let S be a nonempty set of real numbers. If S has exactly one element, then its only element is a least upper bound. So consider S with more than one element, and suppose that S has an upper bound B₁. Since S is nonempty and has more than one element, there exists a real number A₁ that is not an upper bound for S. Define sequences A₁, A₂, A₃, ... and B₁, B₂, B₃, ... recursively as follows:

1. Check whether (A_n + B_n) ⁄ 2 is an upper bound for S.
2. If it is, let A_n+1 = A_n and let B_n+1 = (A_n + B_n) ⁄ 2.
3. Otherwise there must be an element s in S so that s>(A_n + B_n) ⁄ 2. Let A_n+1 = s and let B_n+1 = B_n.

Then A₁ ≤ A₂ ≤ A₃ ≤ ⋯ ≤ B₃ ≤ B₂ ≤ B₁ and |A_n − B_n| → 0 as n → ∞. It follows that both sequences are Cauchy and have the same limit L, which must be the least upper bound for S.

The least-upper-bound property of R can be used to prove many of the main foundational theorems in real analysis.

Let f : [a, b] → R be a continuous function, and suppose that f (a) < 0 and f (b) > 0. In this case, the intermediate value theorem states that f must have a root in the interval [a, b]. This theorem can be proved by considering the set

S  =  {s ∈ [a, b]  :  f (x) < 0 for all x ≤ s} .

That is, S is the initial segment of [a, b] that takes negative values under f. Then b is an upper bound for S, and the least upper bound must be a root of f.

The Bolzano–Weierstrass theorem for R states that every sequence x_n of real numbers in a closed interval [a, b] must have a convergent subsequence. This theorem can be proved by considering the set

S  =  {s ∈ [a, b]  :  s ≤ x_n for infinitely many n}

Clearly, ${\displaystyle a\in S}$, and S is not empty. In addition, b is an upper bound for S, so S has a least upper bound c. Then c must be a limit point of the sequence x_n, and it follows that x_n has a subsequence that converges to c.

Let f : [a, b] → R be a continuous function and let M = sup f ([a, b]), where M = ∞ if f ([a, b]) has no upper bound. The extreme value theorem states that M is finite and f (c) = M for some c ∈ [a, b]. This can be proved by considering the set

S  =  {s ∈ [a, b]  :  sup f ([s, b]) = M} .

By definition of M, a ∈ S, and by its own definition, S is bounded by b. If c is the least upper bound of S, then it follows from continuity that f (c) = M.

Let [a, b] be a closed interval in R, and let {U_α} be a collection of open sets that covers [a, b]. Then the Heine–Borel theorem states that some finite subcollection of {U_α} covers [a, b] as well. This statement can be proved by considering the set

S  =  {s ∈ [a, b]  :  [a, s] can be covered by finitely many U_α} .

The set S obviously contains a, and is bounded by b by construction. By the least-upper-bound property, S has a least upper bound c ∈ [a, b]. Hence, c is itself an element of some open set U_α, and it follows for c < b that [a, c + δ] can be covered by finitely many U_α for some sufficiently small δ > 0. This proves that c + δ ∈ S and c is not an upper bound for S. Consequently, c = b.

The importance of the least-upper-bound property was first recognized by Bernard Bolzano in his 1817 paper Rein analytischer Beweis des Lehrsatzes dass zwischen je zwey Werthen, die ein entgegengesetztes Resultat gewähren, wenigstens eine reelle Wurzel der Gleichung liege.^[3]

• List of real analysis topics

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