Monotonic?

f is a continuous function that maps the closed unit interval I = [0,1] into itself. Prove that if f(f(x)) = x for all x ε I, then f is monotonic

5 Answers

39
Dr.House ·

f must be bijective

and every bijective continuous function from [0,1] to [0,1] is monotonic

341
Hari Shankar ·

ya. but we only need it to be injective and continuous, and for that note that if f(x1) = f(x2) then f(f(x1)) = f(f(x2)) which implies x1=x2

Which theorem allows us to relate this fact to f being monotonic?

3
msp ·

we have f'(f(x))f'(x)=1

and f'(f(x))=\lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\frac{f(f(x+h))-f(f(x))}{h}

and f(f(x))=x for all values x in the given interval so f'(f(x))=1

so from the first eqn we have f'(x)=1

341
Hari Shankar ·

careful, nothing has been said about differentiability.

66
kaymant ·

The last result in #3 easily follows from intermediate value property.

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