I need a hint: prove that $[0, 1]$ and $(0, 1)$ are not homeomorphic without referring to compactness. This is an exercise in a topology textbook, and it comes far earlier than compactness is discussed.
So far my only idea is to show that a homeomorphism would be monotonic, so it would define a poset isomorphism. But the can be no such isomorphism, because there are a minimal and a maximal elements in $[0, 1]$, but neither in $(0, 1)$. However, this doesn't seem like an elemenary proof the book must be asking for.
Answer
There is no continuous and bijective function $f:(0,1) \rightarrow [0,1]$. In fact, if $f:(0,1) \rightarrow [0,1]$ is continuous and surjective, then $f$ is not injective, as proved in my answer in Continuous bijection from $(0,1)$ to $[0,1]$. This is a consequence of the intermediate value theorem, which is a theorem about connectedness. Are you allowed to use that?
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