Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2002 / ia / Paper 1 / 10C / Solution

Let $f$ be continuous on a closed bounded interval $[a,b]$. First prove that $f$ is a bounded function. If it failed, we could choose $x_n\in [a,b]$ with $|f(x_n)|>n$. The Bolzano-Weierstrass theorem gives a subsequence $x_{n_j}\to x_{\ast }$. Because the interval is closed, $x_{\ast }\in [a,b]$. Continuity gives $f(x_{n_j})\to f(x_{\ast })$, contradicting $|f(x_{n_j})|>n_j\to \infty$.

Now let $M=\sup \{f(x):x\in [a,b]\}$, which exists by completeness of the real numbers and the bound just proved. Choose $y_n\in [a,b]$ with $f(y_n)>M-1/n$. A convergent subsequence has limit of a sequence $y_{\ast }\in [a,b]$, and continuity gives $f(y_{\ast })=M$. Applying the same argument to $-f$ gives attainment of the infimum. This proves the extreme value theorem: the maximum and minimum both exist and are attained. The argument also covers a one-point interval, where the conclusions are immediate.