Math 2.0

Real functions Limits and continuity Counterexample

Conway base 13 function

Builds on Darboux functionIntermediate value theoremContinuous function

Counterexample

Use base 1313 with the thirteen digits 0,1,…,9,+,−,.0, 1, \ldots, 9, \mathtt{+}, \mathtt{-}, \mathtt{.}, in this order. For x∈ℝx \in \R, take the base-1313 expansion of the fractional part of xx that does not end in an infinite string of the last digit. Suppose that from some position on, this expansion has the form ± a1a2…ak . b1b2b3…\mathtt{\pm}\, a_1 a_2 \ldots a_k \,\mathtt{.}\, b_1 b_2 b_3 \ldots This tail consists of a sign symbol and finitely many digits ai∈{0,…,9}a_i \in \set{0, \ldots, 9}. Then comes the point symbol, and after it only digits bj∈{0,…,9}b_j \in \set{0, \ldots, 9}. Then set f(x)=± a1a2…ak.b1b2b3…f(x) = \pm\, a_1 a_2 \ldots a_k . b_1 b_2 b_3 \ldots, read as an ordinary decimal number. Otherwise set f(x)=0f(x) = 0.

Each open interval JJ contains all numbers with a fixed integer part whose expansion begins with a suitable finite block of digits. After that block, any tail can be appended. So for each real yy, some x∈Jx \in J has a tail that encodes yy, and f(J)=ℝf(J) = \R.

Remarks

The function ff maps every interval onto ℝ\R, so it is a Darboux function: it has the intermediate value property. But ff is continuous at no point, since its values on every interval are unbounded. So the converse of the intermediate value theorem fails badly. Almost every real number has a base-1313 expansion with infinitely many point symbols, so f=0f = 0 almost everywhere.

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  1. Darboux function concept
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Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway%27s_base_13_function
About this page
Tag91YF82M8AA
URIm2://91YF82M8AA
Kindcounterexample
WritingW0 stub
MSC26A15
UsesDarboux function, Intermediate value theorem, Continuous function
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Changed2 November 2026

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