ALL functions such that:

by iceblits
Tags: functions
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P: 25,173
 Quote by iceblits ahh yes I see that...f(m/n)=mf(1/n)+(m-1)..and then f(m/n)=m(1/n-1)+m-1....so then f(m/n)=m/n-1
Ok, you are almost there. So f(m/n)=m/n-1. That means f(q)=q-1 for all rational numbers q. How do you prove it's also true for irrational numbers? It's time to use the given that f is continuous.
P: 113
 Quote by Dick Ok, you are almost there. So f(m/n)=m/n-1. That means f(q)=q-1 for all rational numbers q. How do you prove it's also true for irrational numbers? It's time to use the given that f is continuous.
Oh boy..haha...maybe....since its continuous the limit as x approaches c from the right and left equals f(c)..where c is any real number?
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P: 25,173
 Quote by iceblits Oh boy..haha...maybe....since its continuous the limit as x approaches c equals f(c)..where c is any real number?
Suppose c is irrational. Then there is a sequence of rational numbers that approach c, say q_i->c (yes?), and you've already shown f(q_i)=q_i-1. What conclusion can you draw from that?
 P: 113 does q_i mean "q sub i" if so then, if I have shown that f(q_i)=q_i-1.. and since the function is continuous for numbers..then a sequence of rational numbers exists to form an irrational number as the number of terms in the sequence approach infinity? edit: and this would show that..as i>>infinity...f(q_i)=q_i-1...which means the formula is true for the irrational numbers
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P: 25,173
 Quote by iceblits does q_i mean "q sub i" if so then, if I have shown that f(q_i)=q_i-1.. and since the function is continuous for numbers..then a sequence of rational numbers exists to form an irrational number as the number of terms in the sequence approach infinity?
Yeah, q_i means "q sub i", I'm often too lazy to TeX, sorry. The ideas are more important than the format in my opinion. Do you know why you can find a sequence of rationals approaching any irrational? This may mean just pointing to a page in your book. And given q_i->c can you use continuity to show f(c)=c-1?
P: 113
 Quote by Dick Yeah, q_i means "q sub i", I'm often to lazy to TeX, sorry. The ideas are more important than the format in my opinion. Do you know why you can find a sequence of rationals approaching any irrational? And given q_i->c can you use continuity to show f(c)=c-1?
Thats ok :) i dont even really know what TeX is..and...Im not sure why..I do know that certain irrational numbers can be written as a sequence of rational numbers..like (e=sum(1/n))..I didn't know that it extended to all irrational numbers (I do now that you've told me)..is there a name for such a theorem?

edit: is it because an irrational number is a sum of decimals?

so like pi=3+.1+.04+.001..
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P: 25,173
 Quote by iceblits Thats ok :) i dont even really know what TeX is..and...Im not sure why..I do know that certain irrational numbers can be written as a sequence of rational numbers..like (e=sum(1/n))..I didn't know that it extended to all irrational numbers (I do now that you've told me)..is there a name for such a theorem?
The statement of the theorem usually referred to as the statement that "the rationals are DENSE in the real numbers". Meaning given any interval (however small) around an irrational number, there is a rational number in it. So you can find a sequence of rationals converging to any irrational. Makes sense, yes?
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P: 25,173
 Quote by iceblits edit: is it because an irrational number is a sum of decimals? so like pi=3+.1+.04+.001..
Yes, that's basically what it is. Your book should have a theorem that tells you something very like that. But it's more like, pi is the limit of the sequence {3,3.1,3.14,3.141,3.1415,...}.
 HW Helper Thanks PF Gold P: 7,221 And now for extra credit What happens if you remove the assumption that f(1) = 0?
 P: 113 So now can I use induction to prove that the formula is true for all real?
P: 113
 Quote by LCKurtz And now for extra credit What happens if you remove the assumption that f(1) = 0?

haha.. does it become an infinite number of functions?...like since a linear function is f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)...then would removing the assumption give me all linear functions +1?
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P: 25,173
 Quote by iceblits haha.. does it become an infinite number of functions?...like since a linear function is f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)...then would removing the assumption give me all linear functions +1?
Why don't you finish the first question first?
P: 113
 Quote by Dick Why don't you finish the first question first?
right..ok so heres what I have so far (thanks to you :) ) :
I show that f(nx)=nf(x)+(n-1), where n is an integer. Then, setting x=1 and using the initial condition that f(x)=0, I show that f(n)=n-1. Then, setting x=m/n I show that f(m)=nf(m/n)+n-1..since f(m)=m-1, this becomes m-1=nf(m/n)+n-1.. so f(m/n)=m/n-1 (m and n are integers). Since the function is continuous, it exits for all points and every irrational number has a sequence of rational numbers that approach it and so f(q_i)=q_i-1, where q_i is the sequence of rational numbers approaching an irrational number. Since this formula can be derived for all real numbers i can use induction to show that f((n+1)x)=(n+1)f(x)+n equals the original formula
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P: 25,173
 Quote by iceblits right..ok so heres what I have so far (thanks to you :) ) : I show that f(nx)=nf(x)+(n-1), where n is an integer. Then, setting x=1 and using the initial condition that f(x)=0, I show that f(n)=n-1. Then, setting x=m/n I show that f(m)=nf(m/n)+n-1..since f(m)=m-1, this becomes m-1=nf(m/n)+n-1.. so f(m/n)=m/n-1 (m and n are integers). Since the function is continuous, it exits for all points and every irrational number has a sequence of rational numbers that approach it and so f(q_i)=q_i-1, where q_i is the sequence of rational numbers approaching an irrational number. Since this formula can be derived for all real numbers i can use induction to show that f((n+1)x)=(n+1)f(x)+n equals the original formula
It gets a little garbled towards the end. Given you have f(q)=q-1 for q a rational (which I think you get), WHY can you say f(c)=c-1 if c is irrational? Say it in your own words as clearly as you can. I'm not seeing it in that explanation.
 P: 113 hmm.. Ok I know that since its continuous a point exists everywhere which guarantees the existence of there being a rational number right?..I guess what Im trying to say after that is that since an irrational number is a sequence of rational numbers..then I can take 1 minus those rational numbers. Like pi is (3, .1, .04, .001..) = pi so I can do (3-1, .1-1, .4-1, .001-1...) = pi-1 by using the formula right?
 P: 113 maybe if i add like... f(3)+f(.1)+f(.04)+f(.005)....=pi-1?
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P: 25,173
 Quote by iceblits hmm.. Ok I know that since its continuous a point exists everywhere which guarantees the existence of there being a rational number right?..I guess what Im trying to say after that is that since an irrational number is a sequence of rational numbers..then I can take 1 minus those rational numbers. Like pi is (3, .1, .04, .001..) = pi so I can do (3-1, .1-1, .4-1, .001-1...) = pi-1 by using the formula right?
I understand what you are saying and your understanding is correct. BUT the logic is a little hashed. You don't need f continuous to say there is a sequence of rational numbers approaching any irrational. There just is. That's a different theorem and has nothing to do with f. If limit(q_i)=c then why can you say limit f(q_i)=f(c)? And what does limit f(q_i) equal?
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P: 7,221
 Quote by Dick Why don't you finish the first question first?
Agreed. I thought he understood the last step but I guess he isn't quite finished. Sorry, I should have waited to post the "extra credit" problem.

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