Location of Roots Theorem
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The location of roots theorem is one of the most intutively obvious properties of continuous functions, as it states that if a continuous function attains positive and negative values, it must have a root (i.e. it must pass through 0).
Statement
Let be a continuous function such that and . Then there is some such that .
Proof
Let
As , is non-empty. Also, as , is bounded
Thus has a least upper bound,
If :
As is continuous at , such that , which contradicts (1).
Also if :
is continuous imples such that , which again contradicts (1) by the Gap lemma.
Hence, .