Tuesday, February 7, 2017

sequences and series - Error with the proof that all solutions to the Cauchy Functional Equation are linear



If f(x) is continuous, it is known that f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y) implies that f(x) is linear, and non-continuous solutions are discussed in these links. (1, 2,3, 4)


However, what is wrong with this proof that all solutions to the Cauchy Functional Equation are of the form f(x)=cx?


If x is rational, it is known that f(x)=cx for some fixed constant c, as seen here.


If x is irrational let us assume that x=n+α, where 0α<1.


f(x)=f(n+α)=f(n)+f(α).


Because of the upper result, f(n)=cn.


Let the decimal expansion of α be i=1ai10i


Note that ai10i is rational.


Then, f(α)=f(i=1ai10i)=i=1f(ai10i)=ci=1ai10i=cα


Therefore f(x)=cn+cα=cx. What did I do wrong?



Answer



The answer is in the comments:


How do you prove that f(i=1ai10i) equals i=1f(ai10i) without assuming f continuous?


Exactly. Let bn=nj=1aj10j. Then f(j=1aj10j)=j=1f(aj10j) is equivalent to f(limnbn)=limnf(bn). This assumes f is continuous at α.


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