Proof of Continuity of f+g & f*g on R

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Homework Statement



Show that there exist nowhere continuous functions f and g whose sum f+g is continuous on R. Show that the same is true for their product.

Homework Equations



None

The Attempt at a Solution



Let f(x) = 1-D(x), where D(x) is the Dirichlet function
Let g(x) = D(x)

(f+g)(x) = 1

(f*g)(x) = D(x) - D(x)^2 <-- where I'm befuddled

I know that D(x) can be written as the limit of cos(m!*pi*x)^(2n) as n, m --> infinity and that D(x)^2 is then equal to cos(m!*pi*x)^(4n). Since n --> infinity, are D(x) and D(x)^2 equivalent?
 
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Write out the definitions of f(x) and g(x) in terms of x and look at their product.
 
LCKurtz said:
Write out the definitions of f(x) and g(x) in terms of x and look at their product.

You mean it will alternate between 0^2 and 1^2 then?
 
ƒ(x) said:
You mean it will alternate between 0^2 and 1^2 then?

No. I mean if x is rational what are f(x) and g(x) and their product. And what if x is irrational?
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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