6
$\begingroup$

Let $f$ belong to $ C^{\infty}[0,1]$ and for each $x \in [0,1]$ there exists $n \in \mathbb{N}$ so that $f^{(n)}(x)=0$. Prove that $f$ is a polynomial in $[0,1]$.

I am trying to use Baire Category Theorem , but cannot perfectly complete the proof .

Thanks for any help.

  • 0
    Below, you asked about some step in the proofs of the link. Maybe you can write them in the OP.2012-11-19

1 Answers 1

3

Look at Andrea Ferretti's solution or Andrey Gogolev's one at MathOverflow.

In the latest, we argue by contradiction. The set $X$ is the points $x$ such that for all $a, the restriction of $f$ to $(a,b)$ is not an polynomial if $x\in (a,b)$. It doesn't contain an isolated point (if $x_0$ were such a point, there would be $r>0$ such that if $|x-x_0|, and $x\neq x_0$, then $x\notin X$). Let $x$ such a point, and $f$ restricted to $(a,b)$ is not a polynomial, $x\in (a,b)$. But there is an open interval $I$ containing $x_0$ and $(a,b)$, and since $x_0\in X$, $f$ restricted to this interval is a polynomial, a contradiction.

$X$ is closed, as if $x_n\to x$, $x_n\in X$ for all $n$, take $(a,b)$ containing $x$. Then it contains a $x_n$ for some $n$. So $x_n\in (a,b)$ and $f$ restricted to this interval is a polynomial.

  • 0
    Thank you very much Davide2012-11-19