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I've done part a and part b. Need help with the last two parts. For part c, I know the value of $f(1/2), f(1/4)...$ but I don't know how to prove it for all rational numbers.

And for part d, can I say "suppose $g(x)=f(x)-x$ and $g(x)$ is continuous." But then I don't know how to proceed from that. Thanks!

Ali
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J.doe
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2 Answers2

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For part c): Let $\frac{p}{q} \in \mathbb Q$ with $p,q \in \mathbb N$.

Note that according to b) $f(1) = qf(\frac{1}{q})$ and that, once you know $f(\frac{1}{q})$, you can write the following (again using b): $$f(\frac{p}{q})=pf(\frac{1}{q})$$

Finally, to take negative rationals into account, observe that by a) $0=f(0)=f(q - q)=f(q) + f(-q)$, i.e. $f(-q)=-f(q)$ for every $q \in \mathbb Q$.

For part d): The trick here is that for each real number $r$, there exists a sequence of rationals $(q_n)$ such that $\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}q_n = r$.

By definition of continuity, what's $\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}f(x_n)$ when $\lim_{\rightarrow \infty}x_n = x$?

Roland
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c) Let $r = n/m \in \mathbb Q+$ so that $n, m \in \mathbb Z; \gcd(m,n) = 1;m >0; n > 0$.

$f(n/m) = f(n/m) = f(1/m + .... + 1/m) = f(1/m)+....+f(1/m) = nf(1/m)$

Note: $m*f(1/m) = f(1/m) + ... + f(/1m) = f(m*1/m) = f(1)$ so $f(1/m) = f(1)/m$.

So $f(n/m) = f(1)*n/m$.

That's all positive rationals.

$f(0) = f(0 + 0) = f(0) + f(0) \implies f(0) = 0$.

$ f(r) + f(-r) = f(r +(-r) ) = f(0) = 0$ for $f(-r) = -f(r)$.

So for any $q \le 0, f(q) = -f(-q) = -(-q)f(1) = q f(1)$.

So that's all rationals. That's c).

d) Let {$a_n$}$\rightarrow x$ be a sequence of rational numbers that converge to real $x$. As $f$ is continuous {$f(a_n)$}={$a_n f(1)$}$\rightarrow f(x)$. But {$a_n f(1)$}$\rightarrow xf(1)$. So $f(x) = xf(1)$.

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A function where $f(x+y) = f(x) + f(y)$ is called a Cauchy function. An interesting thing is $f(x) = xf(1)$ for all real $x$ if one of the following conditions hold.

a) $f$ is continuous at one point (just one).

b) $f$ is bounded on an interval $(a, b)$ (any interval).

c) $f(x)$ is positive for all $0<x<\epsilon$ for some $\epsilon$.

If any of the conditions are true, then $f(x) = xf(1)$.

If $f$ is cauchy but $f(x) \ne xf(1)$ for some real $x$ then.

0) $x$ is irrational

1) $f(x)$ is discontinuous everywhere.

2) $f(x)$ is unbounded on every interval.

and

3) $f(x)$ will have positive and negative values in every interval.

fleablood
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