On very non-linear subsets of continuous functions

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Abstract: In this paper we continue the study initiated by Gurariy and Quarta in 2004 on the existence of linear spaces formed, up to the null vector, by continuous functions that attain the maximum only at one point. Inserting a topological flavor to the subject, we prove that results already known for functions defined on certain subsets of R are actually true for functions on quite general topological spaces. In the line of the original results of Gurariy and Quarta, we prove that, depending on the desired dimension, such subspaces may exist or not.


A subset \(A \subset E\) of a topological vector space is said to be \(\eta\)-lineable for some cardinal number \(\eta\) if \(A \cup \{0\}\) contains an \(\eta\)-dimensional subspace. In recent years, there has been a lot of work along the following lines: Let \(A\) be the set of functions in \(\mathcal C[0,1]\) having a (usually, strange and anti-intuitive) property. Then, in surprisingly many cases, it turns out that \(A \cup \{0\}\) contains an infinite-dimensional subspace. (See, e.g., the excellent recent survey by \textit{L. Bernal-González} and the fourth and fifth author of this paper in [Bull. Am. Math. Soc., New Ser. 51, No. 1, 71--130 (2014; Zbl 1292.46004)].) It is somehow refreshing to encounter this article, motivated by work of \textit{V. I. Gurariy} and \textit{L. Quarta} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 294, No. 1, 62--72 (2004; Zbl 1053.46014)], in which properties are studied for which the ``degree of lineability \(\eta\) can be shown to be not bigger than 1 or 2.NEWLINENEWLINEThis work is based on three results of Gurariy and Quarta [loc. cit.]: Let \(\hat{\mathcal C}(D)\) denote those \(\mathbb R\)-valued continuous functions \(f\) on the topological space \(D\) such that \(f\) attains its maximum at a unique point of \(D\). Then the following hold:NEWLINENEWLINE (A) \(\hat{\mathcal C}[a,b) \cup \{0\}\) contains a two-dimensional vector space,NEWLINENEWLINE (B) \(\hat{ \mathcal C}(\mathbb R) \cup \{0\}\) contains a two-dimensional vector space, andNEWLINENEWLINE(C) \(\hat{ \mathcal C}[a,b] \cup \{0\}\) does not contain a two-dimensional subspace.NEWLINENEWLINESpecifically, the authors extend (A) to the following consequences of one of their results:NEWLINENEWLINE(A\(^\prime\)) Let \(n \geq 2\) be an integer and \(D\) a topological space admitting a continuous bijection \(D \to S^{n-1}.\) Then \({\mathcal C}(D) \cup \{0\}\) is \(n\)-lineable.NEWLINENEWLINEIn connection with (C), using the Borsuk-Ulam theorem, the authors show:NEWLINENEWLINE (C\(^\prime\)) For every compact subset \(D \subset \mathbb R^m\), the set \(\hat{ \mathcal C}(D) \cup \{0\}\) is not \(n\)-lineable for any \(n > m\).NEWLINENEWLINE On the other hand, an example is given of an infinite-dimensional compact set \(D\) such that \(\hat {\mathcal C}(D) \cup\{0\}\) contains an infinite-dimensional subspace.











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