Prove that there does not exist a continuous, bijective function f:[0,1)→R.
By contradiction I can assume a function exists, so that function is surjective, onto and continuous. And I know I need to use the intermediate value theorem but I can't create such a contradiction.
Answer
From the interaction in comments I think OP needs bit more elaboration on the hint by Asaf. I will however refrain from providing a complete solution.
Assume that there is a function f defined on [0,1) which is continuous and a bijection from [0,1) to R. It means that f is one-one function in particular i.e f(a)=f(b) implies a=b.
Next let's consider f(0) and f(1/2). Because f is one-one we must have f(0)≠f(1/2).
Let's assume that f(0)<f(1/2) (the case f(0)>f(1/2) can be handled similarly). Now we need to prove that if x∈(0,1) then f(0)<f(x). This is where you need to use IVT for continuous functions. You should be able to do this by following Asaf's comments. And then we know that f(0) is the minimum value of f(x) and hence the part (−∞,f(0)) of R is not mapped by this function f and thus f is not onto R.
The proof of f(0)<f(x) for all x∈(0,1) proceeds as follows. Clearly f is one-one so f(0)≠f(x). If x=1/2 then we already know that f(0)<f(1/2)=f(x). So let x≠1/2. If f(0)>f(x) then f(x)<f(0)<f(1/2) so that f(0) lies between f(x) and f(1/2) and hence by IVT we have ..... (I hope OP will be able to complete the dots)
If f(0)>f(1/2) then we can show that f(x)<f(0) for all x∈(0,1) so that f(0) is the maximum value of f and again f is not onto R.
Another thing to note. There is nothing special in 1/2 we have chosen above. It can be replaced by any number lying in (0,1).
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