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Given the sets $A, B \subseteq \mathbb R$ and $A, B \ne \varnothing,$ $A,B$ upper bound, with

$$C = \{a + b | a \in A, b \in B\},$$

I am asked to show that $\sup C = \sup A + \sup B$. I have a few questions:

  1. Since no order operation is given, but I'm using $\mathbb R,$ is it correct to assume that the order is simply the 'usual' $\le$ operation?
  2. Is the following proof correct?

$$\begin{align*} &\sup A = \max A,\sup B=\max B\tag{1}\\ &\sup C=\max C=\max A + \max B\tag{2}\\ &(1)\text{ and }(2) \implies \sup C=\sup A + \sup B \end{align*}$$

Brian M. Scott
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Paul Manta
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  • This is false. Consider $A = B = [0,1]$. Then $C = [0,2]$. Presumably, you are asked to show that $\sup(C) = \sup(A) + \sup(B)$. – JavaMan Nov 16 '11 at 13:47
  • @JavaMan Ah sorry, typo. I didn't press Shift long enough. That's supposed to be a plus, not an equal. – Paul Manta Nov 16 '11 at 13:48
  • Related questions: http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4551/how-can-i-prove-supab-sup-a-sup-b-if-ab-ab-mid-a-in-a-b-in-b http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/30918/proving-that-supab-supa-supb-a-b-subseteq-mathbbr – Martin Sleziak Nov 16 '11 at 13:48
  • A few things about the problem also: Note that "\sup" will allow you to write $\sup$ instead of $sup$. Also, $\max(A) = \sup(A)$ only if the maximum exists. However, for some sets, the maximum doesn't exist (like, say $(0,1)$) so the supremum and the maximum are not always equal. – JavaMan Nov 16 '11 at 13:49
  • @JavaMan I know supremum and maximum are not generally the same, but here $A,B \subseteq \mathbb R$. :) – Paul Manta Nov 16 '11 at 13:51
  • Yes, when mention of the reals and $\le$ occurs with no other explanation, assume $\le$ is the usual order for thye reals. 2. Surely you know an example of a nonempty set of reals where there is a sup but no max ... ???
  • – GEdgar Nov 16 '11 at 14:00
  • Ah, nevermind... – Paul Manta Nov 16 '11 at 14:05
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    Writing \sup with a backslash not only de-italicizes it, but also causes "$\sup A$" to have proper spacing between $\sup$ and $A$, and affects the position of the subscript so that although you see $\sup_{x\in S}$ in an "inline" setting, you see $\displaystyle\sup_{x\in S}$ in a "displayed" setting. – Michael Hardy Nov 16 '11 at 16:52