Math Problem Statement

Assume f and g are increasing functions, and at least one of them is strictly increasing. Prove that: f(x) ≤ g(x) for all x ∈ ℝ implies f(f(x)) ≤ g(g(x)) for all x ∈ ℝ.

Solution

The problem given is written in Persian, and I will translate and solve it:

Translation:

"Assume ff and gg are increasing functions, and at least one of them is strictly increasing. Prove that: f(x)g(x)xRf(x) \leq g(x) \quad \forall x \in \mathbb{R} implies f(f(x))g(g(x))xR.f(f(x)) \leq g(g(x)) \quad \forall x \in \mathbb{R}."

Solution Outline:

  1. ff and gg are increasing functions, which means if x1x2x_1 \leq x_2, then: f(x1)f(x2)andg(x1)g(x2).f(x_1) \leq f(x_2) \quad \text{and} \quad g(x_1) \leq g(x_2).

  2. We are given f(x)g(x)f(x) \leq g(x) for all xRx \in \mathbb{R}.

  3. Since f(x)g(x)f(x) \leq g(x), applying ff and gg to both sides preserves the inequality, because both functions are increasing. Thus: f(f(x))f(g(x)).f(f(x)) \leq f(g(x)).

  4. Similarly, since f(x)g(x)f(x) \leq g(x), and applying gg to both sides (again due to the increasing nature of gg): g(f(x))g(g(x)).g(f(x)) \leq g(g(x)).

  5. We need to show that f(f(x))g(g(x))f(f(x)) \leq g(g(x)), which follows directly from the above steps since f(f(x))f(g(x))g(g(x))f(f(x)) \leq f(g(x)) \leq g(g(x)).

Thus, the desired inequality is proved.


Would you like more details on any step of this proof?

Here are some related questions for further practice:

  1. What changes if both ff and gg are strictly increasing?
  2. Can you provide a counterexample if neither ff nor gg are increasing?
  3. How does the proof change if ff and gg are only non-decreasing instead of strictly increasing?
  4. Can you extend this result to compositions of more than two functions?
  5. What if ff and gg were decreasing functions instead?

Tip: When dealing with increasing functions, inequalities are preserved when applying the function to both sides.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Inequalities
Increasing Functions
Function Composition

Formulas

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Theorems

Monotonicity of Functions
Transitivity of Inequalities

Suitable Grade Level

Undergraduate level - Advanced Calculus or Real Analysis