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On a math.stackechange this question was asked,

Does there exist a function $f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that $f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)$ for all $x,y \in\mathbb{R}$; $f(1)=1$; and $f(\sqrt 2)=3$?

I solved it as per this,

First of all we start by taking $x,y=0$ $$f(0+0)=f(0)+f(0)$$ $$f(0)=0\cdots (1)$$

Now $$f'(x)=\lim_{h\to 0} \frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}$$ $$f'(x)=\lim_{h\to 0} \frac{f(x)+f(h)-f(x)}{h}$$ $$f'(x)=\lim_{h\to 0} \frac{f(h)}{h}$$ Now as $f(0)=0$ we can apply the L'Hospital rule, $$f'(x)=f'(0)$$

Now as f'(0) is const, Integrating both the sides, $$\int_{0}^{x} f'(x)dx=\int_{0}^{x} f'(0)dx$$ $$f(x)-f(0)=f'(0)x$$ $$f(x)=f'(0)x$$

Now if, $$f(1)=f'(0)=1$$ It cannot be that, $$f(\sqrt{2})=f'(0)\sqrt{2}=3$$ $$f'(0)=\frac{3}{\sqrt{2}}$$

But one of the answer says such function does exist, where did I go wrong?

Link:$\ref{https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/2428719/does-there-exist-a-function-f-mathbbr→-mathbbr-such-that-fxy-fxfy/2428750#2428750}{ here}$

And if f is non-differentiable, how do we solve these equations?

And can someone name a function if $f$ is non-úmgcos table and satisfies the above conditions?

1 Answers1

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The question the OP refers to is this one, which has a concise answer by Robert Israel, which the OP and the "answerer" Isham evidently do not understand. The fact that Cauchy's functional equation has nonlinear solutions has been known for more than a century. (It's a 1905 result of G. Hamel.) All solutions are $\mathbb Q$-linear functions on $\mathbb R$, regarding the latter as a vector space over $\mathbb Q$. Given a Hamel basis for $\mathbb R/\mathbb Q$ one can construct $f$ such that $f(1)=1$ and $f(\sqrt 2)=3$, as Israel shows. But not all $\mathbb Q$-linear functions on $\mathbb R$ are $\mathbb R$- linear, which infuriates the naive. Adding to the infuriating nature of the problem is the fact that there seems to be no easy way to construct and exhibit Hamel bases. But: the original poster's "proof" is fallacious, as is Isham's "answer".

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