Past exam of the options I course of the University of Oxford / 2009 / E / E2 / a / ii / Solution

Let $(U_i{)}_{i\in I}$ be an open cover of $f(X)$, with the sets open in $Y$. The preimages $f^{-1}(U_i)$ form an open cover of $X$, because $f$ is continuous. By compactness, finitely many of these preimages cover $X$. Their corresponding sets $U_i$ cover $f(X)$, providing a finite subcover. Hence the continuous image is compact.