Hi,
I search for a proof that any nonlinear and additive function (f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)),is unbounded on every interval.
Linear means that f(x)=cx for some real constant c.

What ideas do you have? I recommend generating an arbitrary basis for the reals over the rationals and going from there. I am not quite sure where it will lead, but it seems promising since $\displaystyle f\left( \sum_{k=1}^n a_k \right) = \sum_{k=1}^n f(a_k)$

Originally Posted by hedi
Hi,
I search for a proof that any nonlinear and additive function (f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)),is unbounded on every interval.
Linear means that f(x)=cx for some real constant c.
Do you really mean every interval?

If we prove that the graf of f is dense in the plane then f must be unbounded on every interval.If f is nonlinear then there exist x1 and x2 in R such that f(x1)/x1is not equal to f(x2)/x2.Hence the two vectors (x1,f(x1)) and (x2,f(x2)) are linearly independent in R^2 as a vector space over the field R.So the span of these two vectors over Q (the rational field) is dense ii R^2.Now it is sufficient to show that tis span is contained in tne graf of f.Now show that for any two rational numbers a and b it holds that

f(ax1+bx2)=af(x1)+bf(x2).Can someone help me proving this?