How is the uniqueness of the common point in the Nested Interval Theorem proven?
Conditions
- The intervals are nested closed intervals .
- The length of the intervals approaches zero as .
- There is a common point belonging to all intervals.
Reasoning, step by step
- Assume there is another point different from that is in every interval.
- Observe that the intervals shrink down to just as goes to infinity.
- Deduce that if were in every interval, the intervals couldn't shrink down to just .
- Conclude that this contradiction proves is the only unique intersection point.
Example
The script states: 'Is there any other point shared by all intervals? Suppose there is a point different from . If were in every interval, the intervals couldn't shrink down to just . This contradiction proves that is the only unique intersection point.'
Common misconceptions
- Believing that multiple points can be the intersection of nested intervals if the intervals are closed.
- Assuming that the contradiction arises from the endpoints rather than the shrinking length of the intervals.
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