Introduction to Real Analysis

Patrick Speissegger

McMaster University

Lesson 8: Completeness Axiom

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Patrick Speissegger Real Analysis: Completeness Axiom

bounded sets

Definition
Let S ⊆ R and m ∈ R.
We call m an upper bound for S, if m ≥ s for all s ∈ S. We
say that S is bounded above, if there exists an upper
bound for S.
We call m a lower bound for S, if m ≤ s for all s ∈ S. We
say that S is bounded below, if there exists a lower bound
for S.

Definition
A set S ⊆ R is bounded iff S is bounded below and bounded
above.
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Patrick Speissegger Real Analysis: Completeness Axiom

bounded sets

Example (1)
Which of the following sets are bounded above, which are
bounded below, and which are bounded? In each case, give an
upper bound, or a lower bound, or both.
1 {3, 5, 8, 1, 0 − 3}
2 (−∞, 3)
n √ o
3 S= x ∈Q: 0<x < 2

Lemma
Let S ⊆ R be bounded, and let T ⊆ S. Then T is bounded.

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Patrick Speissegger Real Analysis: Completeness Axiom

maximum and minimum

Definition
If S ⊆ R has an upper bound m that is also a member of S, we
call m a maximum of S. If S ⊆ R has a lower bound m that is
also a member of S, we call m a minimum of S.

Example
Which of the sets in Example (1) have a maximum or a
minimum?

Lemma
Let S ⊆ R. If S has a maximum, then it is unique. If S has a
minimum, then it is unique.

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Patrick Speissegger Real Analysis: Completeness Axiom

supremum and infimum

Definition
Let S ⊆ R be nonempty, and let m ∈ R.
Assume that S is bounded above. We call m a supremum
or least upper bound of S, and write m = sup S, iff
(i) for all s ∈ S, m ≥ s, and
(ii) for all m0 < m, there exists s ∈ S such that s > m0 .
Assume that S is bounded below. We call m an infimum
or greatest lower bound of S, and write m = inf S, iff
(i) for all s ∈ S, m ≤ s, and
(ii) for all m0 > m, there exists s ∈ S such that s < m0 .

Example
Find the suprema and infima of the sets in Example (1), if they
exist.
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Patrick Speissegger Real Analysis: Completeness Axiom

sup and inf

Lemma
Let S ⊆ R. If S has a supremum, then it is unique. If S has an
infimum, then it is unique.

Question
n √ o
Does the set S = x ∈ Q : 0 < x < 2 have a supremum
and an infimum? Are they both in Q?

Therefore:
Not every bounded subset of Q has a supremum in Q.

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Patrick Speissegger Real Analysis: Completeness Axiom

Completeness Axiom

Completeness Axiom for R

Every nonempty subset S of R that is bounded above has a
least upper bound in R.

Lemma
Every nonempty subset S of R that is bounded below has a
greatest lower bound in R.

Theorem (Archimedean Property)

The set N of all natural numbers is unbounded above in R.

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Patrick Speissegger Real Analysis: Completeness Axiom

Archimedean property

Theorem (2)
The following are equivalent:
1 N is unbounded above in R (Archimedean property).
2 For each x ∈ R, there exists an n ∈ N such that n > x.
3 For each x > 0 and each y ∈ R, there exists an n ∈ N such
that nx > y .
1
4 For each x > 0, there exists an n ∈ N such that 0 < n < x.

Example
Let r > 0 be a real number. Then there exists a positive real
number x > 0 such that x 2 = r .

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Patrick Speissegger Real Analysis: Completeness Axiom

density of Q in R

Lemma
Let x > 0. Then there exists m ∈ N such that m − 1 ≤ x < m.

Theorem (Density of Q in R)
Let x, y ∈ R be such that x < y . Then there exists an r ∈ Q
such that x < r < y .

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Patrick Speissegger Real Analysis: Completeness Axiom

Homework 6, due in week 8 (continued)

Read sections 11 and 12 in the book

Practice problems (do not hand in): exercises 11.1 - 11.7,
12.1 - 12.14
Hand in exercises 11.3(b), 11.4, 11.6(a), 12.5, 12.8, 12.13

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Patrick Speissegger Real Analysis: Completeness Axiom