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Seems that this is possible. Here is a (non-constructive) proof. Suggestions are welcome.

The proof is inspired by Mazurkiewicz's argument. This is second version of the proof: it includes improvements in the set-theoretic argument suggested by Joel David Hamkins, and also hopefully clarifies some issues raised in comments. Thanks for the comments!

Goal: Construct a commutative group structure $\star$ on non-negative reals ${\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ such that $x\star y\le x+y$ and $x\star x=0$.

Remark: Note that $0$ is automatically a neutral element, and that such a commutative group is in fact a vector space over $ {\mathbb F}_2 $. Also, we automatically have the triangle inequality: $$x\star z=x\star y\star y\star z\le x\star y+y\star z.$$

Step 1: Let us order ${\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ in order type $c$ (continuum). Equivalently, we choose a bijection $\iota:[0,c)\to{\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$, where $[0,c)$ is the set of ordinals smaller than $c$. Note that for any $ \alpha < c $, we have $$|\iota([0,\alpha))| < c.$$

We may choose $\iota$ so that $\iota(0)=0$, although it is not strictly necessary.

Plan: For every $\alpha\le c$, we will construct a subset $S_\alpha\subset {\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ and a group operation $\star:S_\alpha\times S_\alpha\to S_\alpha$. The group operation will have the required properties: $S_\alpha$ is a vector space over $F_2$ with $0$ being the neutral element, and $x\star y\le x+y$. Besides it will also have the additional property that $S_\alpha$ is generated as a group by $\iota([0,\alpha))$ (in particular, the image is contained in $S_\alpha$). Moreover, if $\beta\prec\alpha$, $S_\beta$ is a subgroup of $S_\alpha$.

In particular, we get a group structure with required properties on $S_c={\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$, as claimed.

Step 2: The construction proceeds by transfinite recursion. The base is $S_0=\lbrace 0\rbrace$ (generated by the empty set).

Step 3. Let us now define $S_\alpha$ assuming that $S_\beta$ is already defined for $\beta<\alpha$. If $\alpha$ is a limit ordinal, take $$S_\alpha=\bigcup_{\beta<\alpha}S_\beta.$$ Therefore, let us assume $\alpha=\beta+1$.

If $\iota(\alpha)\in S_\beta$, take $S_\alpha=S_\beta$.

Step 4. It remains to consider the case when $\alpha=\beta+1$ but $\iota(\alpha)\not\in S_\beta$. Since $I=\iota([0,\beta))$ generates $S_\beta$,
the cardinality of $S_\beta$ is at most the cardinality of the set of finite subsets of $I$. Therefore, $|S_\beta| < c$.

Fix a number $k$ between $0$ and $1$, to be chosen later. Define a function $f:{\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}\to{\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ by $$f(x)=\cases{\alpha+k $f(x)=\cases{\iota(\alpha)+k x,&x\le\alpha\cr x+k\alpha&x\le\iota(\alpha)\cr x+k\iota(\alpha),&x>\alpha}.$$ &x>\iota(\alpha)}.$$ Now choose $k$ so that $f(S_\beta)\cap S_\beta=\emptyset$. This is possible because for every $x,y\in S_\beta$, the equation $f(x)=y$ has at most one solution in $k$, so the set of prohibited values of $k$ has cardinality at most $|S_\beta\times S_\beta|$. (We can use $\iota$ to well-order the interval $(0,1)$; we can then choose $k$ to be the minimal acceptable value, so as to remove arbitrary choice.)

Step 5. Now define $S_\alpha=S_\beta\cup f(S_\beta)$ and set $\iota(\alpha)\star x=f(x)$ for $x\in S_\beta$. The product naturally extends to all of $S_\alpha$: $$f(x)\star f(y)=x\star y\qquad f(x)\star y=y\star f(x)=f(x\star y).$$ It is not hard to see that it has the required properties.

First of all, $S_\alpha$ is an isomorphic image of $S_\beta\times({\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z})$; this takes care of group-theoretic requirement. It remains to check two inequalities:

Step 5a: $$f(x)\star f(y)\le f(x)+f(y)\quad(x,y\in S_\beta),$$ which is true because $f(x)\ge x$, so $$f(x)\star f(y)=x\star y\le x+y\le f(x)+f(y).$$

Step 5b: $$f(x)\star y\le f(x)+y\quad(x,y\in S_\beta),$$ which is true because $f$ is increasing and $f(x+t)\le f(x)+t$, so $$f(x)\star y=f(x\star y)\le f(x+y)\le f(x)+y.$$

That's it.

show/hide this revision's text 4 added 2 characters in body; added 8 characters in body; deleted 18 characters in body

Seems that this is possible. Here is a (non-constructive) proof. Suggestions are welcome.

The proof is inspired by Mazurkiewicz's argument. This is second version of the proof: it includes improvements in the set-theoretic argument suggested by Joel David Hamkins, and also hopefully clarifies some issues raised in comments. Thanks for the comments!

Goal: Construct a commutative group structure $\star$ on non-negative reals ${\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ such that $x\star y\le x+y$ and $x\star x=0$.

Remark: Note that $0$ is automatically a neutral element, and that such a commutative group is in fact a vector space over $ {\mathbb F}_2${\mathbb F}_2 $. Also, we automatically have the triangle inequality: $$x\star z=x\star y\star y\star z\le x\star y+y\star z.$$

Step 1: Let us order ${\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ in order type $c$ (continuum). Equivalently, we choose a bijection $\iota:[0,c)\to{\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$, where $[0,c)$ is the set of ordinals smaller than $c$. Note that for any $ \alpha < c $, we have $$|\iota([0,\alpha))| < c.$$

We may choose $\iota$ so that $\iota(0)=0$, although it is not strictly necessary.

Plan: For every $\alpha\le c$, we will construct a subset $S_\alpha\subset {\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ and a group operation $\star:S_\alpha\times S_\alpha\to S_\alpha$. The group operation will have the required properties: $S_\alpha$ is a vector space over ${\mathbb F}2$ F_2$ with $0$ being the neutral element, and $x\star y\le x+y$. Besides it will also have the additional property that $S\alpha$ S_\alpha$ is generated as a group by $\iota([0,\alpha))$ (in particular, the image is contained in $S_\alpha$). Moreover, if $\beta\prec\alpha$, $S_\beta$ is a subgroup of $S_\alpha$.

In particular, we get a group structure with required properties on $S_c={\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$, as claimed.

Step 2: The construction proceeds by transfinite recursion. The base is $S_0=\lbrace 0\rbrace$ (generated by the empty set).

Step 3. Let us now define $S_\alpha$ assuming that $S_\beta$ is already defined for $\beta<\alpha$. If $\alpha$ is a limit ordinal, take $$S_\alpha=\bigcup_{\beta<\alpha}S_\beta.$$ Therefore, let us assume $\alpha=\beta+1$.

If $\iota(\alpha)\in S_\beta$, take $S_\alpha=S_\beta$.

Step 4. It remains to consider the case when $\alpha=\beta+1$ but $\iota(\alpha)\not\in S_\beta$. Since $I=\iota([0,\beta))$ generates $S_\beta$,
the cardinality of $S_\beta$ is at most the cardinality of the set of finite subsets of $I$. Therefore, $|S_\beta|

Fix a number $k$ between $0$ and $1$, to be chosen later. Define a function $f:{\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}\to{\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ by $$f(x)=\cases{\alpha+k x,&x\le\alpha\cr x+k\alpha,&x>\alpha}.$$ Now choose $k$ so that $f(S_\beta)\cap S_\beta=\emptyset$. This is possible because for every $x,y\in S_\beta$, the equation $f(x)=y$ has at most one solution in $k$, so the set of prohibited values of $k$ has cardinality at most $|S_\beta\times S_\beta|$. (We can use $\iota$ to well-order the interval $(0,1)$; we can then choose $k$ to be the minimal acceptable value, so as to remove arbitrary choice.)

Step 5. Now define $S_\alpha=S_\beta\cup f(S_\beta)$ and set $\iota(\alpha)\star x=f(x)$ for $x\in S_\beta$. The product naturally extends to all of $S_\alpha$: $$f(x)\star f(y)=x\star y\qquad f(x)\star y=y\star f(x)=f(x\star y).$$ It is not hard to see that it has the required properties.

First of all, $S_\alpha$ is an isomorphic image of $S_\beta\times({\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z})$; this takes care of group-theoretic requirement. It remains to check two inequalities:

Step 5a: $$f(x)\star f(y)\le f(x)+f(y)\quad(x,y\in S_\beta),$$ which is true because $f(x)\ge x$, so $$f(x)\star f(y)=x\star y\le x+y\le f(x)+f(y).$$

Step 5b: $$f(x)\star y\le f(x)+y\quad(x,y\in S_\beta),$$ which is true because $f$ is increasing and $f(x+t)\le f(x)+t$, so $$f(x)\star y=f(x\star y)\le f(x+y)\le f(x)+y.$$

That's it.

show/hide this revision's text 3 cleaned up set-theoretic argument

Let me try a proof

Seems that this is possible. It's going to be non-constructive Here is a (to put it mildly)non-constructive) proof. Improvements Suggestions are welcome.

The proof is inspired by Mazurkiewicz's argument. This is second versionof the proof: it includes improvements inthe set-theoretic argument suggested by Joel David Hamkins, and also hopefully clarifies some issuesraised in comments. Thanks for the comments!

(Edit: It

Remark: Note that $0$ is automatically satisfies a neutral element, and that such a commutative group is in facta vector space over ${\mathbb F}_2$. Also, we automatically have the $$x\star z=x\star y\star y\star z\le x\star y+y\star z.)$$z.$$

Step 1: Choose an Let us order $\succ$ on ${\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ such that in order type ${\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ is well-ordered and for any c$ (continuum). Equivalently,we choose a bijection $x\in {\mathbb \iota:[0,c)\to{\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$, where $[0,c)$ is the set$\lbrace y:y\prec x\rbrace$ has cardinality strictly less of ordinals smaller than continuum$c$. Note that for any $ \alpha < c $, we have$$|\iota([0,\alpha))| < c.$$

We may choose $\iota$ so the ordinal type of that $\succ$ \iota(0)=0$, although it is a cardinalnot strictly necessary.

Step 2: Consider the following triples

Plan: $(I,S,\star)$, where For every $S\subset{\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ is\alpha\le c$, we will construct a subset , $\star:S\times S\to S$ is S_\alpha\subset {\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ and a group operationon $S$ that satisfies our requirements, and\star:S_\alpha\times S_\alpha\to S_\alpha$. The group operation will have the required properties: $I\subset S$ S_\alpha$ isa subset which is an initial interval for vector space over $\succ$ {\mathbb F}2$ with $0$ being the neutral element, and generates $S$ x\star y\le x+y$. Besidesit will also have the additional property that $S\alpha$ is generated as a group .

The set of such triples by $\iota([0,\alpha))$(in particular, the image is naturally ordered. contained in $S_\alpha$). Moreover, any chain$(I_\alpha,S_\alpha,\star_\alpha)$ has an upper bound \beta\prec\alpha$, $$(\bigcup I_\alpha,\bigcup S_\alpha,\star),$$(a union of initial intervals S_\beta$ is an interval and a union subgroupof generating sets generates the union). By Zorn's Lemma$S_\alpha$.

In particular, there is we get a maximal element group structure with required properties on $(I,S,\star)$.S_c={\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$, as claimed.

Step 32: Let us show that The construction proceeds by transfinite recursion. The base is $S={\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}.$ Assume S_0=\lbrace 0\rbrace$ (generated by the converseempty set).Note

Step 3. Let us now define $S_\alpha$ assuming that $I\subset {\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}$ S_\beta$ is already defined for $\beta<\alpha$. If $\alpha$ is a proper initial intervallimit ordinal, so its cardinality is strictly smaller than continuumtake$$S_\alpha=\bigcup_{\beta<\alpha}S_\beta.$$Therefore, let us assume $\alpha=\beta+1$.

If $\iota(\alpha)\in S_\beta$, take $S_\alpha=S_\beta$.

Step 4. It remains to consider the case when $\alpha=\beta+1$ but $\iota(\alpha)\not\in S_\beta$.Since $I$ I=\iota([0,\beta))$ generates $S$, S_\beta$,
the cardinality of $S$ (which S_\beta$ is at most the cardinality of the set of finite subsets of $I$) is also strictly less than continuum.

Let $\alpha$ be the smallest element of ${\mathbb R}^{\ge 0}-S$. We will construct a set$T\supset S\cup\lbrace\alpha\rbrace$ and an extension of $\star$ to a group operation (with required properties) on $T$ such that $T=S\cup S\star\alpha$. Then $T$ is generated bythe initial interval $\lbrace x:x\preceq\alpha\rbrace$I$. Therefore, so it would contradict maximality of $(I,S,\alpha)$.|S_\beta|

Fix a number $c$ k$ between $0$ and $1$, to be chosen later. Define a $$f(x)=\cases{\alpha+c $f(x)=\cases{\alpha+k x,&x\le\alpha\cr x+c\alphax+k\alpha,&x>\alpha}.$$Now choose $c$ k$ so that $f(S)\cap S=\emptyset$f(S_\beta)\cap S_\beta=\emptyset$. This is possible because for every $x,y\in S$S_\beta$, the equation $f(x)=y$ has at most one solution in $c$, k$, so the set of prohibited values of $c$ k$ has cardinality at most $|S\times S|$|S_\beta\times S_\beta|$. (We can use $\iota$ to well-order the interval $(0,1)$;we can then choose $k$ to be the minimal acceptable value, so as to remove arbitrary choice.)

Step 45. Now define $T=S\cup f(S)$ S_\alpha=S_\beta\cup f(S_\beta)$ and set $\alpha\star \iota(\alpha)\star x=f(x)$ for $x\in S$S_\beta$. The product naturally extends to all of $T$:

Indeed

First of all, we need $S_\alpha$ is an isomorphic image of $S_\beta\times({\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z})$;this takes care of group-theoretic requirement. It remains to

Step 4a5a: $$f(x)\star f(y)\le f(x)+f(y)\quad(x,y\in S),$$

Step 4b5b: $$f(x)\star y\le f(x)+y\quad(x,y\in S),$$

That's it.

Edit: Forgot to mention that the proof is inspired by Mazurkiewicz's argument.

show/hide this revision's text 2 fixed terminology, added the inspirational link.
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