Interchange of Function and Supremum

Theorem

Given a non decreasing function \(f\), and set of real numbers \(X\)

\[ f(\sup(X)) \geq \sup(f(X))\]

given that \(\sup(f(X))\) exists.

Proof

From the definition of the supremum

\[ \sup(X) \geq x \quad \forall x \in X\]

then, since \(f\) is non-decreasing

\[ f(\sup(X)) \geq f(x) \quad \forall x \in X.\]

Hence \(f(\sup(X))\) is an upper bound for \(f(X)\), and hence it is greater than or equal to the least upper bound, that is

\[ f(\sup(X)) \geq \sup(f(X)).\]