Showing that a function is surjective onto a set

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around demonstrating that a function is surjective onto a specific set, namely showing that for every point \( z \) in the ball \( B(0,0.4) \), there exists a corresponding point \( x \) in the ball \( B(0,1) \) such that \( f(x) = z \). The context involves properties of functions and their mappings in a mathematical setting.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of the reverse triangle inequality and its relevance to the surjectivity of the function. There are suggestions to consider specific properties of the function, such as the distance between points and the behavior of \( f \) at certain locations, including the fixed point at \( 0 \). Some participants also question the assumptions regarding the nature of the balls defined in the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with various approaches being explored. Some participants have provided hints and suggestions for further reasoning, while others are clarifying definitions and assumptions. There is no explicit consensus yet, but the dialogue indicates a productive exploration of the problem.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the closed ball \( B(0,r) \) and the punctured closed ball \( B^\ast(0,r) \), which may imply specific constraints on the points being considered. Additionally, the problem involves ensuring that the function \( f \) meets the criteria for surjectivity without providing a complete solution.

mathstudent34
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Homework Statement
Let $B(0,1)\subseteq\mathbb{R^n}$ be the ball of radius $1$ in $\mathbb{R^n}$. Suppose $f:B(0,1)\to\mathbb{R^n}$ satisfies $f(0)=0$ and
$$\forall x\neq y\in B(0,1),~~~|f(x)-f(y)-(x-y)|\leq 0.1|x-y|.$$
Show that $f$ is onto $B(0,0.4)$.
Relevant Equations
$f:X\to Y$ is surjective if $\forall y\in Y,\ \exists x\in X$ such that $f(x)=y$.
I have to show that $\forall z\in B(0,0.4)$, there exists an $x\in B(0,1)$ such that $f(x)=z$ but I am not sure how to show this. From the reverse triangle inequality
$$-|f(x)-f(y)|+|x-y|\leq 0.1|x-y|\implies |f(x)-f(y)|\geq 0.9|x-y|$$
im not sure if this helps.
 
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Just an idea: maybe it helps that ##|f(z)-z|\leq 0.04##.
 
I assume (since you are not precisely specifying it) that ##B(0,r)\subseteq\mathbb{R}^n## is the closed ball of radius ##r>0## centered at ##0##.

You are given that ##0\in B(0,1)## is a fixed point of ##f##. This immediately tells us that there exist a point in ##x\in B(0,1)## for which ##f(x) = 0##, namely the point ##x=0##. Thus, the problems is now to show that there for every point ##z\in B^\ast(0,\tfrac{4}{10})## exist at least one point ##x\in B(0,1)## s.t. ##f(x)=z##, where ##B^\ast(0,r) = B(0,r)\setminus\{0\}## denotes the punctured closed ball.

Now, note that
$$\forall x\in B^\ast(0,\tfrac{4}{10})\ :\ \vert f(x) - x\vert \leq \frac{1}{10}\vert x\vert.$$
is a special case of your original inequality satisfied by ##f## (Hint, tak ##y=0## and use that ##B^\ast(0,\tfrac{4}{10})\subset B^\ast(0,1)##).

Try to proceed from here (Hint, what it the farthest two points in ##B^\ast(0,\tfrac{4}{10})## can be from each other?).
 
Did you read online what you wrote? As you got part right not too difficult to get the rest. (Though I don't know why a bit came out red.)

Show that ##f## is onto ##B(0,0.4)##.
Relevant Equations:: ##f:X\to Y## is surjective if ##\forall y\in Y,\ \exists x\X## such that ##f(x)=y##.

I have to show that ##\forall z\in B(0,0.4)##, there exists an ##x\in B(0,1)## such that ##f(x)=z## but I am not sure how to show this. From the reverse triangle inequality
$$-|f(x)-f(y)|+|x-y|\leq 0.1|x-y|\implies |f(x)-f(y)|\geq 0.9|x-y|$$
im not sure if this helps.
 

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