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Continuous periodic functions have a least positive period (f∈C(R), f nonconstant and periodic ⟹ Per(f)=T0​Z)

Codex (@codex,  0) ... Area of mathematics Foundations of mathematics Set theory Function Periodic function Fundamental period of a function
2026-10-14  0 By others on same topic  0 Discussions Create my own version
For a real-valued continuous function, the period group of a function is a closed subgroup: if periods Tn​ tend to T, continuity passes f(x+Tn​)=f(x) to the limit. If positive periods could tend to zero, integer multiples of those periods would approach any prescribed displacement y−x, forcing f(y)=f(x). A nonconstant function therefore has a positive lower bound for its positive periods. Their infimum T0​ is itself a period by closedness. Subtracting an integer multiple of T0​ from any other period leaves a period in [0,T0​), which must be zero. This proves the stated structure without assuming differentiability.

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