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The Brouwer fixed-point theorem says that every continuous map $F:K\to K$ has a fixed point when $K$ is a nonempty compact set and a convex set in a finite-dimensional vector space over the real numbers. Equivalently, take $K\subseteq {\mathbb{R}}^n$ for a finite $n$, with the usual Euclidean space structure: there is some $x_{\ast }\in K$ such that $F(x_{\ast })=x_{\ast }$. The conclusion guarantees at least one fixed point, without asserting uniqueness or telling us how quickly to find one. ^[ref]

The standard pictures are a closed ball, including a closed unit ball, and a simplex. A filled disk qualifies; its bounding circle alone does not. A probability simplex also qualifies even though its dimension is smaller than that of its ambient Euclidean space. The hypotheses have concrete meanings: being a convex set keeps every line segment between allowed points inside $K$, and compactness prevents escape or loss of a limiting point. In Euclidean space, the Heine-Borel theorem identifies compact sets with closed sets that are bounded sets. Crucially, every output must belong to the same $K$ as the input.

For a fully computable example, let $D=\{(u,v):u^2+v^2\le 1\}$ be the filled unit disk. Apply a counterclockwise quarter-turn rotation, shrink by $0.4$, and add a translation:This affine map is a continuous map. Because the rotation preserves the Euclidean norm, the triangle inequality gives, for every $x\in D$,Thus the whole image lies strictly inside $D$. More precisely, it is a disk of radius $0.4$ centred at $(0.3,0.1)$. This containment check is what makes the Brouwer fixed-point theorem applicable; a formula being a continuous map by itself would not suffice.

The fixed point can now be found by a system of linear equations:Indeed, substitution gives $F(x_{\ast })=(-22/290+87/290,26/290+29/290)=x_{\ast }$. Its Euclidean norm is $\sqrt{290}/58\approx 0.293610$, safely inside $D$. The figure shows arrows from sample inputs to their outputs; an arrow disappears at the fixed point because the displacement $F(x)-x$ vanishes there.

Repeated iterations of a map happen to succeed for this example. Starting at $x_0=(1,0)$ and setting $x_{k+1}=F(x_k)$ gives $x_1=(0.3,0.5)$, $x_2=(0.1,0.22)$, and $x_3=(0.212,0.14)$. Subtracting the fixed point equation yields $x_{k+1}-x_{\ast }=0.4R_{90}(x_k-x_{\ast })$, so the Euclidean distance to $x_{\ast }$ shrinks by exactly $0.4$ each step. This extra fact follows from the contraction mapping property and the Banach fixed-point theorem. It is additional information beyond the Brouwer fixed-point theorem.

The distinction becomes visible with two simpler continuous maps of the same disk. The pure rotation $G(u,v)=(-v,u)$ has exactly one fixed point, $(0,0)$, since $u=-v$ and $v=u$ force both to vanish. Yet iterations of a map starting at $(1,0)$ here cycle through $(0,1)$, $(-1,0)$, and $(0,-1)$ forever. Their Euclidean distance from $(0,0)$ stays one, so there is no convergence in a metric space. The reflection $H(u,v)=(u,-v)$ has an entire line segment of fixed points, namely $\{(u,0):-1\le u\le 1\}$. Starting off that line segment produces an alternating pair. Existence, uniqueness, and convergence of iterations of a map are separate questions.

Removing hypotheses changes the answer. Restrict the same quarter-turn rotation to the circle $S^1=\{(u,v):u^2+v^2=1\}$. It remains a continuous map into that compact set, but its only possible fixed point, $(0,0)$, has been removed. The circle is not a convex set. Conversely, on the unbounded convex set $\mathbb{R}$, the translation $t\mapsto t+1$ has no fixed point; on the open interval $(0,1)$, $t\mapsto (t+1)/2$ also has none. Neither domain is a compact set. The finite-dimensional closed ball statement should likewise not be extended to arbitrary infinite-dimensional vector spaces, where a closed ball need not be a compact set.

The one-dimensional version explains the connection to the intermediate value theorem. For a continuous map $f:[a,b]\to [a,b]$, put $h(t)=f(t)-t$. Then $h(a)\ge 0$ and $h(b)\le 0$, so the intermediate value theorem gives $h(c)=0$ for some $c\in [a,b]$. In higher dimensions, the Brouwer fixed-point theorem supplies a corresponding existence principle when this scalar sign argument is unavailable. Its practical value is ensuring that a proposed equation $x=F(x)$ has a solution once a suitable domain is found; it supplies no general promise of a fast algorithm.

A useful application is positive matrix eigenvector from simplex normalization: rescale the output of a strictly positive matrix to make its entries sum to one. For example, takeOn this probability simplex, $Ax=(1+t,2-t)$ has entry sum $3$, so the normalized continuous map is $T(x)=((1+t)/3,(2-t)/3)$. Both entries are positive and sum to one, keeping the image inside the probability simplex. Its fixed point equation is $t=(1+t)/3$, hence $t=1/2$. Consequently $x_{\ast }=(1/2,1/2)$ satisfies $A{x}_{\ast }=(3/2,3/2)=3x_{\ast }$: a strictly positive eigenvector with eigenvalue $3$. In larger dimensions, the Brouwer fixed-point theorem guarantees the corresponding positive eigenvector without requiring us to solve a system of linear equations in advance. The fixed point expresses preservation of relative weights, rather than preservation of their unnormalized size.

Proofs can be approached through the no-retraction theorem or Sperner's lemma. In the latter approach, increasingly fine triangulations locate approximate fixed points; compactness supplies a convergent subsequence, and continuous maps turn its limit into an exact fixed point. ^[ref]

A primary historical reference is L. E. J. Brouwer's 1911 paper Über Abbildung von Mannigfaltigkeiten, whose digitized original is hosted by Zenodo under DOI 10.1007/BF01456812. This gives a direct route to the early literature behind the Brouwer fixed-point theorem. ^[ref]

The radial retraction of a punctured ball gives a retraction: project away from the removed interior point until reaching the unit sphere. Write $a=x_0$, $v=x-a\ne 0$, and setThe equation $|a+tv{|}^2=1$ is the quadratic equationIts constant term is negative, so it has exactly one positive root, namely $\tau (x)$. Since $|a+v|=|x|\le 1$, that positive root satisfies $\tau (x)\ge 1$. Thus $r(x)\in \partial {\mathbb{B}}^n$ for every $x\ne a$ in the closed unit ball.

The displayed expression is a continuous map on the punctured closed unit ball: its denominator is nonzero there, and its square root has strictly positive argument. If $|x|=1$, $t=1$ is the unique positive root, so $r(x)=x$. These are exactly the requirements for a retraction. The missing interior point is essential: the formula need not extend continuously to $a$, in agreement with the no-retraction theorem.

A retraction from a topological space $X$ onto a subset $Y$ is a continuous map $r:X\to Y$ satisfying $r(y)=y$ for every $y\in Y$. Equivalently, $r\circ \iota ={\mathrm{id}}_Y$, where $\iota :Y\hookrightarrow X$ is the inclusion.

The no-retraction theorem for the finite-dimensional closed unit ball saysIndeed, if $r$ were such a retraction, $F(x)=-r(x)$ would be a continuous map from ${\mathbb{B}}^n$ into itself. The Brouwer fixed-point theorem would give $x=F(x)=-r(x)$. Since $|r(x)|=1$, $x$ lies on the boundary, where $r(x)=x$. Thus $x=-x$, contradicting $|x|=1$. Here the Brouwer fixed-point theorem asserts that every continuous map of a finite-dimensional closed unit ball into itself has a fixed point.

The retraction of a Hilbert ball onto its sphere exists. In the real Hilbert space ${\ell }^2$, let $S(x_0,x_1,\dots )=(0,x_0,x_1,\dots )$ be the unilateral shift operator, and let $e_0=(1,0,\dots )$. For $x$ in the closed unit ball $\mathbb{B}$, defineThe orthogonality of $e_0$ and $Sx$ gives $\Vert F(x){\Vert }^2=1$. Thus $F$ is a continuous map into the unit sphere. It has no fixed point: $F(x)=x$ would imply $x_{j+1}=x_j$ for every $j\ge 0$. A constant sequence in ${\ell }^2$ must be zero, whereas $F(0)=e_0\ne 0$.

Put $d=x-F(x)$, which is nonzero everywhere, and defineThis is a continuous map on the whole closed unit ball, including zero. To check its range, observe that $⟨F(x),d⟩=⟨F(x),x⟩-1$, soIf $\Vert x\Vert =1$, then $\Vert x-F(x){\Vert }^2=2(1-⟨F(x),x⟩)$, hence $\alpha (x)=1$ and $r(x)=x$. Therefore $r:\mathbb{B}\to \partial \mathbb{B}$ is a retraction.

Geometrically this is the second intersection of the line from $F(x)$ through $x$ with the unit sphere. In factThe construction illustrates why the finite-dimensional hypothesis in the no-retraction theorem matters. The closed unit ball of ${\ell }^2$ is not a compact set in the norm topology.

The Brouwer fixed-point theorem says that every continuous map from a closed Euclidean ball to itself has a fixed point. For the closed disc $D\subset {\mathbb{R}}^2$ its equivalent no-retraction theorem says that there is no continuous $r:D\to \partial D$ satisfying $r(z)=z$ on $\partial D$.

Assume the fixed-point theorem and suppose such a retraction exists. Then $F(x)=-r(x)$ maps $D$ continuously into itself. A fixed point must lie on the boundary, where $r(x)=x$, giving $x=-x$, impossible on the unit circle.

Conversely suppose $F:D\to D$ is continuous and has no fixed point. From $F(x)$ draw the ray through $x$ and let $r(x)$ be its exit point on the circle. To check continuity rather than merely relying on the picture, put $v=x-F(x)\ne 0$. The exit point is $F(x)+t(x)v$, whereThis is continuous, lies on the circle and has $t(x)\ge 1$. On the boundary the exit point is $x$, so $r$ is a retraction, contradicting the assumed theorem. Hence the two disc formulations are equivalent; the same argument works for a ball in any dimension.

Sperner's lemma says that a triangulated triangle whose vertices are labelled $1,2,3$, with each outer vertex having its own label and each boundary edge using only its endpoint labels, contains a small triangle with all three labels. In fact the number of such triangles is odd. Count incidences of small triangles with edges labelled $1,2$. Interior edges contribute twice. On the outer $1,2$ edge, the number of changes between these labels is odd; the other two outer edges contribute zero. A small triangle contributes one incidence if it has all three labels, two if it uses both $1,2$ but not $3$, and zero otherwise. The total parity proves the assertion.

The resulting no-retraction theorem is: there is no continuous retraction of a closed disc onto its boundary. Work first with a closed triangle $P$. If $r:P\to \partial P$ fixes the boundary, colour each vertex of increasingly fine triangulations by an index of a largest barycentric coordinate of $r(v)$. The largest coordinate is at least $1/3$; on the boundary the colouring satisfies Sperner's lemma. Choose a tricoloured small triangle in each triangulation. By compactness and shrinking mesh, a subsequence of their three vertices converges to one point $x$. Continuity forces all three barycentric coordinates of $r(x)$ to be at least $1/3$, so $r(x)$ is the triangle's centre, contradicting $r(x)\in \partial P$. A homeomorphism of a disc with $P$ proves the disc assertion.

Brouwer fixed-point theorem states that every continuous self-map $F$ of a closed disc has a fixed point. If it had none, the ray from $F(x)$ through $x$ would meet the boundary beyond $x$, continuously in $x$. That intersection defines a retraction, since a boundary point is already the outgoing intersection. This contradicts the no-retraction theorem.

Finally fix $y\in {\mathbb{R}}^2$ and define $F_y(x)=y+x-g(x)$. The displacement bound implies $\Vert F_y(x)-y\Vert \le K$, so $F_y$ maps the closed radius-$K$ disc centred at $y$ into itself. Brouwer fixed-point theorem gives $F_y(x)=x$, which is exactly $g(x)=y$. Since $y$ was arbitrary, $g$ is surjective.

Sperner's lemma says that if a triangle is triangulated, its vertices are labelled $1,2,3$, and label $i$ is forbidden on the edge opposite vertex $i$, then an odd number of small triangles have all three labels.

To prove it, count incidences with edges whose endpoint labels are $1$ and $2$. Along the outer $12$-edge, the labels begin at $1$ and end at $2$, so the number of $12$ transitions is odd; no other boundary edge contributes. An interior edge contributes twice. A small triangle contributes an odd number precisely when its three labels are $1,2,3$: a triangle using only $1,2$ contributes two, and every other non-tricoloured triangle contributes zero. The number of tricoloured triangles is therefore odd.

Now suppose the closed sets $A_i$ in the question existed. Let $d_i(x)$ be the distance from a point to a closed set $A_i$. Empty triple intersection makes $d_1+d_2+d_3>0$, sois a continuous function from the large triangle to itself, where $v_i$ is the vertex opposite ${\alpha }_i$. Since the $A_i$ cover the triangle, at least one $d_i(x)$ vanishes, so $r(x)$ always lies on the boundary. On ${\alpha }_i\subseteq A_i$, its $i$th barycentric coordinate vanishes, hence $r({\alpha }_i)\subseteq {\alpha }_i$. Thus $r$ is face-preserving on the boundary; its boundary restriction is homotopic there to the identity by the straight-line homotopy. This would give a map from the triangle into its boundary whose boundary degree is one, contradicting the no-retraction theorem, the standard topological consequence of Sperner's lemma. Therefore the three closed sets must have a common point.

The equivalent no-retraction theorem says there is no continuous retraction of the closed disk onto its boundary circle. A fixed-point-free map gives a retraction by projecting from $f(x)$ through $x$ to the boundary; conversely a retraction composed with the antipodal boundary map gives a fixed-point-free self-map.

The planar Brouwer fixed-point theorem says every continuous $F:D^2\to D^2$ has a fixed point. The equivalent no-retraction theorem says no continuous $r:D^2\to S^1$ restricts to the identity on $S^1$. A fixed-point-free map gives a retraction by extending the ray from $F(x)$ through $x$ to the boundary; a retraction followed by the antipodal map gives a fixed-point-free self-map.

Suppose the stated sphere map is not onto and omits $p$. Compactness gives $\epsilon >0$ such that its image lies in $S^2\setminus B_{\epsilon }(p)$. That set is homeomorphic to a closed disc. Restricting $f$ to it gives a continuous self-map of a disc, so Brouwer supplies a fixed point, contrary to the hypothesis. Hence $f$ is surjective.

The closed unit ball $B$ in the infinite-dimensional real Hilbert space ${\ell }^2$ admits a retraction onto its unit sphere. Write $S$ for the forward unilateral shift operator and set $F(x)=\sqrt{1-\Vert x{\Vert }^2}{e}_0+Sx$. Then $\Vert F(x)\Vert =1$ and $F(x)\ne x$: equality would force all coordinates of $x$ to coincide, hence vanish, contradicting $F(0)=e_0$.

For $d=x-F(x)$, setThe nonvanishing denominator makes $r$ a continuous map. Expanding its squared norm gives $\Vert r(x)\Vert =1$. On $\Vert x\Vert =1$, the fraction is one, so $r(x)=x$. Thus the finite-dimensional no-retraction theorem does not extend to this closed unit ball.