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A constant added to a function changes its reference level without changing its derivative:Geometrically, it is a vertical translation of the graph. For $F(x)=x^3/3$, changing $C$ moves every plotted value by the same amount while preserving every tangent slope. This is the geometric reason that antiderivatives form a family.

When $F$ represents a physical quantity, the physical dimension of $C$ must match that of $F$. When position is obtained from velocity, $C$ is a position offset. An unknown starting position remains unknown even when the rate of change is known exactly.

When describing the family of antiderivatives on an interval, the arbitrary additive constant is the constant of integration. On a disconnected open domain, the corresponding freedom is a locally constant function, as in antiderivatives on disconnected domains, rather than necessarily one constant on the whole domain.

Let $U$ be an open subset of the real line, and let $F,G$ be antiderivatives of the same function on $U$. Each connected component $I_j$ is an open interval. On that component, $(G-F{)}^{\prime }=0$, so the mean value theorem gives $G-F=C_j$. The constants on different components are independent: there is no subinterval inside $U$ joining them. Conversely, adding any chosen constant on each component preserves the derivative everywhere on $U$.

For example, the domain of $g(x)=1/x$ is $U=\mathbb{R}\setminus \{0\}$. Every antiderivative on this domain has the formwith arbitrary real $C_{-},C_{+}$. The logarithm of the absolute value differentiates to $1/x$ on each side. The function with $C_{-}=2$ and $C_{+}=-1$ is therefore a valid antiderivative, although it cannot be written as $\log |x|+C$ with one global constant.

An initial condition at $x=1$ fixes $C_{+}$ and leaves $C_{-}$ free. Fixing both constants requires one reference value in each connected component, or additional conditions that couple the components. The locally constant function $F(x)-\log |x|$ captures this remaining freedom.

The sections are locally constant functions into a discrete set $T$, with ordinary restriction. It is the sheafification of the constant presheaf of sets. Its value on an empty open set is a singleton, even if $T$ is empty. For a topological space, this construction is left adjoint to the global sections functor: a map from it to a sheaf is a family of global sections indexed by $T$.

There are no exact forms in degree zero. A smooth function has zero exterior derivative precisely when it is locally constant, so $H_{\mathrm{dR}}^0(M)$ is the space of locally constant functions. On a connected nonempty smooth manifold, it is $\mathbb{R}$. An overlapping cover by two connected open subsets therefore does not give the direct-sum formula for de Rham cohomology of a finite disjoint union: restriction sends a constant to equal constants on both pieces.

The Mahler coefficients tend to zero, so the displayed series defines a continuous function and has value zero at zero. The Pascal's identity and uniform convergence give $\Delta Jf=f$. Thus the forward difference operator is surjective on continuous functions on the p-adic integers. Its kernel consists of constants: period one implies agreement on the dense nonnegative integers, and continuity then implies constancy. This selects the unique discrete antiderivative vanishing at zero.

There is also a direct construction on locally constant functions. If $h$ has period $M=p^r$, put $a_j=h(j)$, $S={\sum }_{i=0}^{M-1}{a}_i$, and $P_j={\sum }_{i<j}{a}_i$. For $x=j+My$ with $0\le j<M$ and $y\in {\mathbb{Z}}_p$, setThis is a continuous function on each residue class. Increasing $j$ gives $Jh(x+1)-Jh(x)=a_j$; at $j=M-1$, the next point has residue zero and quotient $y+1$, giving the same identity. The ultrametric inequality gives $\Vert Jh{\Vert }_{\infty }\le \Vert h{\Vert }_{\infty }$, and $Jh(0)=0$. The construction is independent of the chosen period, since two normalized discrete antiderivatives agree on the nonnegative integers and then on the p-adic integers by continuity. It is linear on the locally constant functions, which form a dense subset in the supremum norm. Completeness therefore extends it to every continuous function, retaining $\Delta J=I$ and the norm bound. This proves surjectivity without first using the Mahler theorem.

The locally constant function equal to one on $2{\mathbb{Z}}_2$ and minus one on its other coset has Mahler coefficients $a_n=(-2{)}^n$: at nonnegative integers its values are $(-1{)}^j$, so the forward difference operator multiplies it by $-2$. Since $|a_n{|}_2=2^{-n}$ and the binomial polynomials have absolute value at most one on the 2-adic integers, the series converges uniformly. The binomial theorem verifies its values on the nonnegative integers, and continuity extends the identity to the entire domain.

The mean value theorem says that an average rate of change is attained as an instantaneous rate somewhere between the endpoints. Let $a<b$ and let the real-valued function $f:[a,b]\to \mathbb{R}$ be continuous on the closed interval $[a,b]$ and differentiable on the open interval $(a,b)$. Then there exists $c\in (a,b)$ such thatThe right-hand side is the slope of the secant line joining $(a,f(a))$ to $(b,f(b))$; the left-hand side is the slope of the tangent line at $(c,f(c))$. The derivative need not be continuous, and the function need not be differentiable at the endpoints. ^[ref]

For the polynomial $f(x)=x^2$ on $[1,3]$, the secant line has slope $(9-1)/(3-1)=4$. Since the derivative is $f^{\prime }(x)=2x$, the required interior point is $c=2$. The tangent line there is $y=4+4(x-2)=4x-4$, whereas the secant line is $y=1+4(x-1)=4x-3$. Their equal slopes make them parallel, but they are distinct straight lines: the theorem equates rates, not heights.

The practical strength is that the unknown point $c$ can disappear from an estimate. Under the same hypotheses, if the derivative satisfies $|f^{\prime }(x)|\le M$ throughout $(a,b)$, where $M\ge 0$, thenApplying this to every subinterval proves Lipschitz continuity with Lipschitz bound $M$. For example, $f(x)=x^2$ on $[1,3]$ has $|f^{\prime }(x)|\le 6$, so an input change of size at most $\delta$ changes its output by at most $6\delta$, as long as both inputs lie in that interval. A local derivative bound therefore controls finite changes without computing an integral. The sign of the derivative similarly gives the derivative criterion for monotonicity.

Taking $M=0$ shows that a function with zero derivative throughout a real interval is a constant function, provided it is continuous at any included endpoints. The interval condition is essential: on the domain of a function $(-2,-1)\cup (1,2)$, the function equal to zero on the left interval and one on the right interval has zero derivative everywhere. It is a locally constant function, yet not a constant function on the whole domain of a function. The mean value theorem cannot cross the gap.

A concise proof subtracts the secant line: set $m=(f(b)-f(a))/(b-a)$ and $h(x)=f(x)-f(a)-m(x-a)$. Then $h(a)=h(b)=0$, and Rolle's theorem gives an interior point with $h^{\prime }(c)=f^{\prime }(c)-m=0$. The geometric idea is to remove the average trend and find a horizontal tangent line in what remains.

For a profinite group $G$ and a complete discrete valuation ring $I$ with a continuous ${\mathbb{Z}}_p$-algebra structure, an $I$-valued measure is a bounded $I$-linear functional on continuous $I$-valued functions, with the uniform norm. Equivalently it assigns finitely additive values in $I$ to clopen sets. Locally constant functions are uniformly dense, so integration extends uniquely from finite sums. Countable additivity in the usual real-measure sense is not imposed. The coefficient ring may have infinite residue field and need not be compact.

Constructing the subsheaf. On an integral scheme, every nonempty open subset is an irreducible topological space and hence a connected space. A locally constant function from such an open subset to $F$ is constant. Thus the constant sheaf $\underline{F}$ has sections $F$ on every nonempty open subset, and the structure sheaf embeds in it by restriction to the generic point. Empty members of the given open cover may be discarded.

For every open subset $W\subseteq X$, defineThis is a subsheaf of the sheaf of modules $\underline{F}$: its condition is local, and compatible sections glue in $\underline{F}$, with the regularity conditions gluing in ${\mathcal{O}}_X$. On $U_i\cap U_j$, the hypothesis says that $f_j/f_i$ is a section of the sheaf of units of the structure sheaf. Therefore multiplication by it preserves ${\mathcal{O}}_X$, andIt follows that $\mathcal{L}{|}_{U_i}=f_i^{-1}{\mathcal{O}}_{U_i}$: the condition with index $i$ implies every other condition on an overlap, and the converse is part of the definition. Multiplication by $1/f_i$ is an isomorphism ${\mathcal{O}}_{U_i}\to \mathcal{L}{|}_{U_i}$, with inverse multiplication by $f_i$. Hence $\mathcal{L}$ is an invertible sheaf, or equivalently a line bundle, andThese local descriptions also give uniqueness as a subsheaf of $\underline{F}$. This construction is the divisor line bundle for the local rational equations $f_i$.

The tensor product. Refine the two open covers to $W_{ij}=U_i\cap V_j$. The ratiosare sections of the sheaf of units of the structure sheaf on the corresponding overlaps, so the products give a line bundle $\mathcal{M}\subseteq \underline{F}$ by the construction just proved. Multiplication in $F$ defines a sheaf morphismOn each $W_{ij}$ it sends the local generator $(1/f_i)\otimes (1/g_j)$ to the local generator $1/(f_i{g}_j)$. It is thus an isomorphism on an open cover, and hence an isomorphism globally. In particular,

The sign for projective twists. Write homogeneous coordinates $[x_0:\cdots :x_n]$ on projective space ${\mathbb{P}}_{\mathbb{Z}}^n$, and let $U_i=D_{+}(x_i)$ be its standard affine open cover. For any integer $m$, take the nonzero elements of the function fieldTheir ratios are $f_i/f_j=(x_j/x_i{)}^m$, which are sections of the sheaf of units of the structure sheaf on $U_i\cap U_j$, including when $m<0$. The twisting sheaf on projective space $\mathcal{O}(m)$ has local generator $x_i^m$ on $U_i$. Divide a rational section of $\mathcal{O}(m)$ by $x_0^m$ to embed it in the constant sheaf of the function field; the local generator becomes $(x_i/x_0{)}^m=1/f_i$. This identifies the constructed line bundle with $\mathcal{O}(m)$ and fixes the sign explicitly.

For $n\ge 1$, $\mathrm{Pic}({\mathbb{P}}_{\mathbb{Z}}^n)\cong \mathbb{Z}$, with generator $[\mathcal{O}(1)]$; the displayed data gives all its powers, with $\mathcal{O}(m)\otimes \mathcal{O}(r)\cong \mathcal{O}(m+r)$ by the product rule above. If $n=0$, projective space is $\mathrm{Spec}\mathbb{Z}$, its Picard group is zero, and the same formula gives only the trivial line bundle.

In an irreducible topological space, any two nonempty open subsets intersect. Let $W\subseteq X$ be a nonempty open subset. Two nonempty subsets open in $W$ are also open in $X$, and hence intersect; thus $W$ is itself an irreducible topological space. If $W$ were disconnected, a separation into two disjoint nonempty open subsets would contradict this intersection property. Hence $W$ is a connected space. The empty open subset is connected as well under the usual convention.

Discard empty members of $\mathcal{U}$ as in (b). Every finite intersection $U_{i_0}\cap \cdots \cap U_{i_q}$ is nonempty by repeated use of the intersection property and is an open subset, hence a connected space. A locally constant function on this intersection is constant. It follows that the constant sheaf hasand every restriction map between these nonempty intersections is the identity on $A$. The whole Čech cochain complex is therefore the same as for the indexed open cover of a point having the same index set. The cochain homotopy constructed in (b) applies component by component and provesThe argument concerns the constant sheaf of locally constant functions; arbitrary coefficient sheaves on an irreducible topological space need not have the same Čech cohomology.

The direct-sum assertion fails in both degrees when the pieces overlap. Take genuine open covers, so the failure does not depend on any subtle choice of smooth structures on subsets.

For degree zero, let $M=\mathbb{R}$, $U=(-\infty ,1)$ and $V=(-1,\infty )$. By degree-zero de Rham cohomology, $H_{\mathrm{dR}}^0$ consists of locally constant functions. Each of $M,U,V$ is connected and nonempty, soThey are not isomorphic as real vector spaces. The restriction map is $c\mapsto (c,c)$; the overlap forces equality instead of allowing two independent constants.

For degree one, let $M=S^1$, and remove distinct points $a,b$ to form $U=S^1\setminus \{a\}$ and $V=S^1\setminus \{b\}$. Each is diffeomorphic to an open interval. Every one-form $f(t)dt$ on an interval has the smooth primitive ${\int }_{t_0}^{t}f(s)ds$, so both pieces have zero first de Rham cohomology. On the circle, the form $\eta =xdy-ydx$ is closed because all two-forms on a one-dimensional manifold vanish. The parameterization $(x,y)=(\cos t,\sin t)$ givesAn exact form has zero integral around this loop: the integral of $dF$ is the difference of the endpoint values of the periodic function $F$. Thus $[\eta ]\ne 0$, while the proposed right side is zero, disproving the isomorphism.

In fact $H_{\mathrm{dR}}^1(S^1)\cong \mathbb{R}$. For a periodic one-form $f(t)dt$, subtract $cdt$ where $c=(2\pi {)}^{-1}{\int }_0^{2\pi }f(t)dt$. The remainder has the periodic primitive ${\int }_0^t(f(s)-c)ds$, and hence is exact. This also explicitly identifies the nonzero class used above.

The two cosets of $2{\mathbb{Z}}_2$ are clopen sets in the 2-adic integers. The function is constant on each, so it is a locally constant function and therefore continuous. Its values on the nonnegative integers are $f(j)=(-1{)}^j$.

The Mahler coefficient at index $n$ is the nth forward difference operator applied at zero. HereThus the Mahler expansion of the parity function isTo verify the expansion directly, each binomial polynomial $\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{x}{n}\right)$ takes values in ${\mathbb{Z}}_2$: it does so at nonnegative integers, which form a dense subset, and polynomial evaluation is continuous into ${\mathbb{Q}}_2$. Hence the nth summand has 2-adic absolute value at most $2^{-n}$ throughout the domain. The ultrametric inequality proves uniform convergence, and the sum is continuous. At each nonnegative integer $m$, the series becomes the finite binomial theorem identity $(1-2{)}^m=(-1{)}^m$. Equality on a dense subset and continuity prove equality everywhere. Finally, the coefficients in any such expansion are determined successively by its values at $0,1,2,\dots$, since $\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{m}{n}\right)=0$ for $n>m$ and $\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{m}{m}\right)=1$. This also verifies uniqueness without needing the general Mahler theorem.

The affine space $X={\mathbb{A}}_k^n$ is an integral scheme, hence its underlying topological space is irreducible. Every nonempty open subset of an irreducible topological space is irreducible and in particular connected. A section of the constant sheaf with value the function field $K=k(t_1,\dots ,t_n)$ is a locally constant function, so on any such open subset it is constant. Thus its sections are $K$ on each nonempty open subset and zero on the empty set. All restriction maps are either identities on $K$ or maps onto zero.

The constant sheaf is therefore a flasque sheaf. It has its natural ${\mathcal{O}}_X$-module structure because a regular function on a nonempty open subset embeds in the function field and acts by multiplication. Part (i) now givesThis is an instance of constant sheaves on irreducible spaces are flasque; no restriction on $n$ is needed.

Suppose $I=A\cup B$, where $A$ and $B$ are disjoint closed sets with $-1\in A$ and $1\in B$. Since each is the complement of the other, both are also open in $I$. Define $f=-1$ on $A$ and $f=1$ on $B$. This locally constant function is continuous and contradicts part (c). Therefore $A\cap B\ne \varnothing$.

For $\xi$ in the Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$, set ${\Phi }^t=R_{\exp (t\xi )}$. The one-parameter subgroup law gives the flow law, andso this is the global flow of the left-invariant vector field $l_{\xi }$.

For $f(g)=R_g^{\ast }\alpha$, every tangent vector at $g$ is the initial velocity of $g\exp (t\xi )$ for some $\xi$. Since $R_{g\exp (t\xi )}=R_{\exp (t\xi )}\circ R_g$,Thus all ${\mathcal{L}}_{l_{\xi }}\alpha$ vanish exactly when every derivative of $f$ vanishes. This is equivalent to $f$ being a locally constant function.

Fix $x\in U$. Since $U$ is open, choose an open ball $B(x,\epsilon )\subset U$. For any $y$ in this ball the segment $x+t(y-x)$ remains in it. For each coordinate $G_j$, the chain rule givesThe ordinary mean value theorem therefore gives $G_j(y)=G_j(x)$ for every coordinate, hence $G(y)=G(x)$. Thus $G$ is a locally constant function.

For each $z\in {\mathbb{R}}^m$, its preimage is a union of such open balls, so $G^{-1}(\{z\})$ is open in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$. Its complement in $U$ is the union of the other fibers and is also open. If $U$ is nonempty and connected, the nonempty fiber through any chosen point is both open and closed in $U$, and must be all of $U$. ThereforeThe empty-domain case is vacuous. Notice that continuity of $DG$ was never needed.