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Question

Let $(X, d)$ be a metric space. For each $a \in X$, define a function $f_a\colon X \to \mathbb R$ by $f_a(x) = d(x, a), (x ∈ X)$.

Prove that for all $a, b \in X$ $\sup\{|f_a(x) − f_b(x)| : x \in X\} = d(a,b).$

I know I have to prove that d(a,b) is a least upper bound but I am unsure how to go about doing it.

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    It is interesting that *no* answer so far mentioned that this is nothing but the reverse triangle inequality...2012-04-17

4 Answers 4

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we have by the triangle inequality \[ f_a(x) = d(x,a) \le d(a,b) + d(x,b) = d(a,b) + f_b(x) \iff f_a(x) - f_b(x) \le d(a,b) \] and \[ f_b(x) = d(x,b) \le d(a,b) + d(x,a) = d(a,b) + f_a(x) \iff f_b(x) - f_a(x) \le d(a,b) \] which together shows that $d(a,b)$ is an upper bound. But now $f_b(a) - f_a(a) = d(a,b)$, so it's attained and therefore the least upper bound,

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Let $a,b\in X$. We have for $x\in X$ that $d(a,x)\leq d(a,b)+d(b,x)=$ so $f_a(x)\leq d(a,b)+f_b(x)$ and $f_a(x)-f_b(x)\leq d(a,b)$. Switching $a$ and $b$ we get that $|f_a(x)-f_b(x)|\leq d(a,b)$ so $\sup_{x\in X}|f_a(x)-f_b(x)|\leq d(a,b)$. Taking $x=b$, we see that this supremum is in fact a maximum, equal to $d(a,b)$.

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As you said, you need to prove d(a,b) is the least upper bound,

You will need to prove 2 things :

1) d(a,b) is an upper bound, ie:

\forall x\in X, |f_a(x) - f_b(x)| <= d(a,b)

What property of metric space you can use to prove that?

2) d(a,b) is the least upper bound. You can prove that

$\exists x\in X, |f_a(x) - f_b(x)| = d(a,b)$

Can you choose an x satisfies above?

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$|f_a(x)-f_b(x)|=|d(x,a)-d(x,b)|$; clearly this is $d(a,b)$ when $x=b$. Suppose that there is some $x\in X$ such that $|d(x,a)-d(x,b)|>d(a,b)$; then either $d(x,a)-d(x,b)>d(a,b)$ or $d(x,b)-d(x,a)>d(a,b)$. Without loss of generality assume that $d(x,a)-d(x,b)>d(a,b)$. Then $d(x,a)>d(x,b)+d(b,a)$, contradicting the triangle inequality. Thus, $|f_a(x)-f_b(x)|\le d(a,b)$ for all $x\in X$, with equality when $x=b$, and the result is immediate.