Define the indicator function of the rational numbers on the real line by for rational and otherwise. Every rational shift preserves rationality and irrationality, so every nonzero rational number is a period of a function. Conversely, an irrational shift sends from value one to value zero, so it is not a period. The period group of a function is exactly , and the positive periods approach zero without a smallest one. The function is nonconstant and discontinuous everywhere; this is why continuity matters in continuous periodic functions have a least positive period.

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