Infinite Differentiability and Analyticity.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the properties of the function defined as $f(x)=e^{-1/x^2}$ for $|x|>0$ and $f^{(k)}(0)=0$ for $k=0,1,2,\ldots$. Participants explore the implications of infinite differentiability and the lack of analyticity at the point $x=0$, including attempts to demonstrate these characteristics through mathematical reasoning.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant claims that the function is infinitely differentiable at $x=0$ due to the limit $\lim_{|x|\to 0^+} x^{-n} e^{-1/x^2}=0$ for every nonnegative integer $n$.
  • Another participant points out that the equality $f^{(k)}(0) = 0$ for $k \ge 1$ is a consequence of the definition of $f$, not part of it.
  • A participant suggests that if $f$ were analytic, it would imply the existence of a radius $r > 0$ such that $f$ can be expressed as a convergent Taylor series on $(-r,r)$, leading to a contradiction since $f(x) \neq 0$ for $x \neq 0$.
  • A follow-up question asks for verification that for every $M,\delta>0$, in any $\delta$-neighbourhood of the origin, the function satisfies $|f^{(k)}(x)| > Mk!/\delta^k$, linking this to the non-analyticity of $f$.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of the function's properties, particularly regarding its analyticity. There is no consensus on how to explicitly demonstrate the inequality related to the derivatives of the function.

Contextual Notes

The discussion involves assumptions about the behavior of the function near the origin and the implications of infinite differentiability versus analyticity, which remain unresolved. The mathematical steps to show the inequality proposed in the follow-up question are not fully explored.

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I want to show that the function defined as follows:

$f(x)=e^{-1/x^2}$ for $|x|>0$ and $f^{(k)}(0)=0$ for $k=0,1,2,\ldots$ is infinitely differentiable but not analytic at the point $x=0$.

For infinite-differentiability I used the fact that $\lim_{|x|\to 0^+} x^{-n} e^{-1/x^2}=0$ for every $n$ nonnegative integer, from which I can deduce that this function is infinite differnetiable at $x=0$ since all of its derivatives are continuous at $x=0$ and equal zero.

The problem I am having is with showing that it's not analytic, I need to show that for every $\delta>0, M>0$ the derivative $f^{(k)}(x)$ its absolute value is greater than $M\cdot k!/\delta^k$; not sure how to show it exactly.
 
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To start by picking a nit, I would like to remark that the equality $f^{(k)}(0) = 0$ for $k \ge 1$ is not part of the definition of $f$, but a consequence of the definition of $f$.

If $f$ were analytic, there would exist $r > 0$ such that $f$ can be written as a pointwise convergent Taylor series on the open interval $(-r,r)$. Now, $f(0) = 0$ and you wrote that you have proven that all derivatives of $f$ at the origin vanish. However, $f(x) \neq 0$ for any $x \neq 0$. So what could you conclude?
 
Krylov said:
To start by picking a nit, I would like to remark that the equality $f^{(k)}(0) = 0$ for $k \ge 1$ is not part of the definition of $f$, but a consequence of the definition of $f$.

If $f$ were analytic, there would exist $r > 0$ such that $f$ can be written as a pointwise convergent Taylor series on the open interval $(-r,r)$. Now, $f(0) = 0$ and you wrote that you have proven that all derivatives of $f$ at the origin vanish. However, $f(x) \neq 0$ for any $x \neq 0$. So what could you conclude?

I would get a contradiction since the Taylor series is identically zero, but the function isn't zero for $x\ne 0 $.

Thanks.
 
@Krylov I have a follow up question:

I want to verify that for every $M,\delta>0$ in any $\delta$-neighbourhood of the origin the function $f$ that was given in my first post in this thread satisfies:

$$|f^{(k)}(x)| >Mk!/\delta^k$$

This can be concluded from the fact that $f$ isn't analytic, but can you show this explicitly?
 

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