Dedekind's Theorem/Corollary

Theorem
Let $\tuple {L, R}$ be a Dedekind cut of the set of real numbers $\R$.

Then either $L$ contains a largest number or $R$ contains a smallest number.

Proof
From Dedekind's Theorem, there exists a unique real number such that:
 * $l \le \gamma$ for all $l \in L$
 * $\gamma \le r$ for all $r \in R$.

Let $\gamma \in L$.

Then by definition $\gamma$ is the largest number in $L$.

Let $\gamma \in R$.

Then by definition $\gamma$ is the smallest number in $R$.

By the definition of Dedekind cut, $\tuple {L, R}$ is a partition of $\R$.

Hence $\gamma$ is either in $L$ or $R$, but not both.

That is, $\gamma$ is either:
 * the largest number in $L$

or:
 * the smallest number in $R$.

Hence the result.