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If$|f(x)-f(y)|le (x-y)^2$, prove that $f$ is constant

Mathematics Asked by User31415 on November 1, 2021

(Baby Rudin Chapter 5 Exercise 1)

Let $f$ be defined for all real $x$, and suppose that
begin{equation}tag{1}
|f(x)-f(y)|le (x-y)^2
end{equation}

Prove that $f$ is constant.

My attempt:

Let $f$ be defined for all real-valued inputs. Let $x in mathbb{R}$ and $y in mathbb{R} smallsetminus { x }$, and suppose that (1) holds.
Then, we have:
begin{align*}
left| dfrac{f(x)-f(y)}{x-y}right| le (x-y)
end{align*}

As $xto y, limlimits_{x to y}left| dfrac{f(x)-f(y)}{x-y}right| le 0$. Since it cannot be that $left|f'(y)right| < 0$, we have that $left|f'(y)right| = 0 implies f'(y) = 0$.

Can someone please read over my proof and let me know if it is correct?

3 Answers

Late answer, but here is a slight generalization of this problem.

Let $X,Ysubseteqmathbb{R}$ and suppose $f:Xto Y$ is a function. Suppose $f$ is $alpha$-Holder continuous with $alphainmathbb{R}$ and $alpha>1$. Then, there exists a $Kinmathbb{R}$ such that for all $x,yin X$, we have $|f(x)-f(y)|leq K|x-y|^{alpha}$. Now, consider $$0leq lim_{xto y}bigg|frac{f(x)-f(y)}{x-y}bigg|leq lim_{xto y}K|x-y|^{alpha-1} $$ Since $alpha>1$, then $alpha-1>0$, which implies $limlimits_{xto y}|x-y|^{alpha-1}=0$. By the squeeze theorem, we have $limlimits_{xto y}bigg|frac{f(x)-f(y)}{x-y}bigg|=0$ which implies $f'(x)=0$. Since the only functions whose derivatives are identically zero are the constant functions, then we must have $f(x)=c$ for some $cinmathbb{R}$.

Answered by C Squared on November 1, 2021

Technically there is a slight mistake.

You took $xin Bbb{R}$ and $yin Bbb{R}$ such that $yneq x $, so you should $yrightarrow x$. Then you arrive $f'(x)=0$ for all $xin Bbb{R}$, which gives $f$ is constant.

Answered by user598858 on November 1, 2021

Your deduction that $$frac{|f(x)-f(y)|}{|x-y|}le x-y$$ is incorrect because it would lead to $$|f(x)-f(y)|le |x-y|cdot(x-y)ne (x-y)^2$$ To make it work, you may want to deduce that $$frac{|f(x)-f(y)|}{|x-y|}le |x-y|$$

Your solution is otherwise correct.

Answered by WindSoul on November 1, 2021

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