Let $R$ denote the ring of continuous functions on $[0,1]$, and let $M$ be a *proper*

maximal ideal. For the sake of contradiction, suppose there is no $x\in [0,1]$ such that
$f(x) = 0$ for all $f\in M$. I know two ways to finish up, the usual hands-on" approach
and a more high-brow approach.
**Hands-on**: By assumption, for every $x\in [0,1]$, there is a function $f_{x} \in M$
such that $f_{x} (x) \neq 0$. As $f_x$ is continuous, there is in fact a neighborhood
$N_x$ of $x$ on which $f_{x}$ is nonzero. The $\{N_x\}$ form an open cover of $[0,1]$,
so by compactness, there are $\{x_1, \cdots, x_k\}$ such that $[0,1] \subset N_{x_1}
\cup \cdots \cup N_{x_k}$. It follows that $$g = {f_{x_1}}^2 + \cdots + {f_{x_k}}^2 > 0$$
on $[0,1]$. Since $g\in M$ and $1/g \in R$, the property of ideals tells us $g\cdot (1/g) =
1 \in M$, implying $M = R$.
**High-brow**: We will use the Stone-Weierstrass Theorem. Observe that $M$ is an
algebra of real continuous functions on $[0,1]$. By assumption, it vanishes at no point of
$[0,1]$. Suppose there are $x_1$, $x_2 \in [0,1]$ such that $f(x_1) = f(x_2) \neq 0$ for
all $f\in M$. Then the property of ideals tells us $x\cdot f(x) \in M$, so $$x_1 f(x_1) =
x_2 f(x_2) \implies x_1 = x_2$$ Thus, $M$ separates points on $[0,1]$. The StoneWeierstrass Theorem implies $R$ is dense in $M$. In particular, there is some $g\in M$
such that $g>0$ on $[0,1]$. As above, this means $M=R$.