Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2008 / ia / Paper 1 / 10D / b / Solution

Let $u,v\in f(I)$ with $u<y<v$. Choose preimages $x_u,x_v\in I$, and let $a=\min (x_u,x_v)$, $b=\max (x_u,x_v)$. The defining property of a real interval ensures $[a,b]\subseteq I$. The restriction of $f$ to this closed interval is continuous, and its endpoint values are $u,v$ in one order or the other. The intermediate value theorem supplies $c\in [a,b]\subseteq I$ with $f(c)=y$. Thus every value between two image values lies in the image, provingThe continuous image of a real interval result does not require $I$ itself to be closed or bounded; only the segment between the chosen preimages is used. Empty and single-point images also satisfy the interval property.