Past exam of the metric spaces and complex analysis course of the University of Oxford / 2015 / 2 / d / Solution

Define $g(p)=f(p)-f(-p)$ on the sphere. It is continuous and satisfies $g(-p)=-g(p)$. If $g(p)=0$ at a chosen point, we are done. Otherwise choose a unit vector $q$ perpendicular to $p$ and follow the half great circleThe Pythagorean theorem shows that $\gamma (t)$ lies on the sphere, and its endpoints are $p,-p$. The continuous function $g\circ \gamma$ has opposite signs at the endpoints. The Intermediate value theorem therefore gives a zero $t_{\ast }$, soThis is a scalar equal-value assertion for an antipodal pair; it uses only a path and the Intermediate value theorem.