We have a continuous function $f:\bar{B}\to\mathbb{R}^n$, where $\bar{B}=\{x\in\mathbb{R}^n:\|x\|\le 1\}$, such that if $\|x\|=1$ then $\|f(x)-x\|<\epsilon$, for a fixed $\epsilon\in(0,1)$. We have to prove that $B(0,1-\epsilon)\subseteq f(\bar{B})$.
This appears as a lemma in Rudin's Real and Complex Analysis. The author claims that it is possible to prove it without Brouwer's fixed point theorem, under the additional hypothesis that $f$ is open.
So far I've only observed that the problem reduces to showing that $f(\bar{B})\cap B(0,1-\epsilon)$ is not empty. Any ideas?
Open map which "almost fixes" the boundary of an open ball
14
$\begingroup$
real-analysis
general-topology
-
0The function $f(x)=(7\|x\|-6\|x\|^2)x$ shows the condition $\|x\|=1$ is as you say not enough. – 2015-01-30
1 Answers
1
Assume that $f(\bar{B})∩B(0,1−ϵ)$ is empty. Since $f$ is open $f(B)$ is open. Since $f$ is continuous, $f(\bar{B})$ and the boundary of $f(\bar{B})$ (which is equal to the the boundary of it's complement) are compact sets. Since $0$ and $\infty$ are both in the complement of $f(\bar{B})$ it must be disconnected, which is a contradiction.
-
0What has to be disconnected? And why? – 2016-05-07