Completeness Equivalences
Several standard statements that are equivalent forms of completeness of the real numbers.
Completeness equivalences: For an ordered field satisfying the field axioms and order axioms, the following statements are equivalent (each implies the others):
- (Least upper bound property) Every nonempty bounded above subset of has a supremum (the completeness axiom).
- (Cauchy completeness) Every Cauchy sequence in is a convergent sequence.
- (Monotone convergence) Every monotone sequence in that is bounded converges (see monotone sequence convergence theorem).
- (Nested intervals) If is a nested sequence of nonempty closed intervals with lengths tending to , then consists of exactly one point.
Remarks
These equivalent formulations let one choose the most convenient “completeness principle” for a given argument, depending on whether the problem is stated in terms of suprema, sequences, or intervals.