Thursday, 25 July 2013

real analysis - If f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y),forall;x,yinBbbR, then if f is continuous at 0, then it is continuous on BbbR.




I know that this question has been asked here before but I want to use a different approach. Here is the question.



A function f:RR is such that
f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y),x,yR(1)

I want to show that if f is continuous at 0, it is continuous on R.



MY WORK



Since (1) holds for all xR, we let x=xy+y
Then,
f(xy+y)=f(xy)+f(y)
f(xy)=f(x)f(y)
Let x0R,ϵ> and y=xx0,xR. Then,
f(x(xx0))=f(x)f(xx0)

f(x0)=f(x)f(xx0)
f(y)=f(x0)f(x)



HINTS BY MY PDF:



Let x0R,ϵ> and y=xx0,xR. Then, show that |f(x0)f(x)|=|f(y)f(0)|
Using this equation and the continuity of f at 0, establish properly that
|f(y)f(0)|<ϵ,
in some neighbourhood of 0.




My problem is how to put this hint together to complete the proof. Please, I need assistance, thanks!


Answer



We want to show that



$$\forall \epsilon>0, \exists r>0:|x-y|

But f(x)f(y)=f(xy) because f(y)+f(xy)=f(y+(xy))=f(x) as you have noticed.



Now, take u=xy. By continuity at 0, we can write:




$$\forall \epsilon>0, \exists r>0:|u-0|

It's easy to see that f(0)=0, because f(0)=f(0+0)=f(0)+f(0). Hence



$$\forall \epsilon>0, \exists r>0:|(x-y)-0| $$\forall \epsilon>0, \exists r>0:|x-y| Hence, f is continuous at any yR.


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