The stability problem: New results and counterexamples (Q1077645)

In 1940 S. Ulam investigated the stability of the Cauchy functional equation \(f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)\). Definition: If G and H are metric groups and \(\epsilon >0\) then a function \(f: G\to H\) is called an \(\epsilon\)- homomorphism if for any x, y in G it follows that \(d(f(x+y),f(x),f(y))\leq \epsilon\). Ulam's problem: Ulam asked about the existence of homomorphisms \(h: G\to H\), corresponding to \(\epsilon\)-homomorphisms \(f: G\to H\), such that d(f(x),h(x))\(\leq \epsilon\) for any x in G. If such an h exists then f is called a perturbation of h. In this paper the author employs methods from his 1979 paper [Proc. R. Soc. Edinb., Sect. A 84, 279-281 (1979; Zbl 0439.39004)] to show the existence of homomorphisms h for \(0<\epsilon <1/6\) when G is \(I_ n\), the cyclic group of order n, and H is either G or I, the rotations of the circle. He also shows that in general the results can not be extended to \(\epsilon\geq 1/4\). He then shows the non-existence of the homomorphisms for the group Z of integers and for the finite Abelian groups. Finally, he presents a table of computer generated results for maps from \(I_ n\) to \(I_ n\) for \(n<13\).