Let f:R≥0→R≥0 be a function such that for all a,b∈R≥0: i) f(a)=0⇔a=0. ii) f(ab)=f(a)f(b). iii) f(a+b)≤2max{f(a),f(b)}.
Prove that for every a,b∈R≥0, f(a+b)≤f(a)+f(b).
Solution
We claim that for every k∈N and real numbers a1,a2,…,a2k: f(a1+a2+⋯+a2k)≤2kmax{f(a1),f(a2),…,f(a2k)} Proof is done by induction on k. Basis is obviously the condition (iii). Suppose the claim is true for k. For k+1 we have: f(a1+a2+⋯+a2k+1)=f((a1+a2+⋯+a2k)+(a2k+1+⋯+a2k+1))≤2max{f(a1+a2+⋯+a2k),f(a2k+1+⋯+a2k+1)}≤2max{2kmax{f(a1),f(a2),…,f(a2k)},2kmax{f(a2k+1),…,f(a2k+1)}}≤2k+1max{f(a1),f(a2),…,f(a2k+1)} Now suppose that 2k−1<n≤2k: f(a1+⋯+an)=f(a1+⋯+an+2k−n0+0+⋯+0)≤2kmax{f(a1),…,f(an),f(0),…,f(0)}=2kmax{f(a1),…,f(an)}≤2nmax{f(a1),…,f(an)} If we put a1=a2=⋯=an=1 then f(n)=f(n1+1+⋯+1)≤2nf(1). Therefore (f(a+b))n=f((a+b)n)=f(i=0∑n(in)aibn−i)≤2(n+1)0≤i≤nmax{f((in)aibn−i)}≤2(n+1)i=0∑n(in)f(ai)f(bn−i)≤4(n+1)f(1)i=0∑n(in)f(a)if(b)n−i=4(n+1)f(1)(f(a)+f(b))n⇒f(a+b)≤n4(n+1)f(1)(f(a)+f(b)) If n tends to infinity, we have n4(n+1)f(1)→1 and this implies the desired result. □
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