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Joel David Hamkins
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The answer is yes.

Theorem. Every function $f:\newcommand\R{\mathbb{R}}\R\to\R$ is the sum of two surjective functions, $f=g+h$. Indeed, we can find such $g$ and $h$ that are surjective on every nontrivial interval.

Proof. Enumerate the reals in order type continuum $\R=\{x_\alpha\mid\alpha<\frak{c}\}$. We define $g$ and $h$ in stages, so that at every stage, fewer than continuum many values have been specified. To ensure surjectivity, we look at $x_\alpha$, and define $g(a)=x_\alpha$ for some $a$ for which $g(a)$ is not yet specified, and $h(a)=f(a)-g(a)$, and similarly $h(b)=x_\alpha$ and $g(b)=f(b)-h(b)$ for some $b$ similarly not yet used. And we also make sure $g(x_\alpha)$ and $h(x_\alpha)$ are defined, if they haven't yet been, by using $f(x_\alpha)/2$ for each. At each stage, the domains of the approximations to $g$ and $h$ are the same.

This defines two functions $g$ and $h$, and they will both be surjective, because at stage $\alpha$ we specifically placed $x_\alpha$ into their ranges, and we will have $g(x)+h(x)=f(x)$ for every $x$, since we ensured that property every time we defined another value of $g$ or $h$.

A simple modification of the argument will enable $g$ and $h$ to be surjective even when restricted to any interval, no matter how small. The reason is that we can enumerate the $x_\alpha$ along with rational intervals, and find $a$ and $b$ within the desired interval. $\Box$

ThisThe argument uses the axiom of choice, but perhaps there is an effective construction as in the the injectivityinjectivity question.

The answer is yes.

Theorem. Every function $f:\newcommand\R{\mathbb{R}}\R\to\R$ is the sum of two surjective functions, $f=g+h$.

Proof. Enumerate the reals in order type continuum $\R=\{x_\alpha\mid\alpha<\frak{c}\}$. We define $g$ and $h$ in stages, so that at every stage, fewer than continuum many values have been specified. To ensure surjectivity, we look at $x_\alpha$, and define $g(a)=x_\alpha$ for some $a$ for which $g(a)$ is not yet specified, and $h(a)=f(a)-g(a)$, and similarly $h(b)=x_\alpha$ and $g(b)=f(b)-h(b)$ for some $b$ similarly not yet used. And we also make sure $g(x_\alpha)$ and $h(x_\alpha)$ are defined, if they haven't yet been, by using $f(x_\alpha)/2$ for each. At each stage, the domains of the approximations to $g$ and $h$ are the same.

This defines two functions $g$ and $h$, and they will both be surjective, because at stage $\alpha$ we specifically placed $x_\alpha$ into their ranges, and we will have $g(x)+h(x)=f(x)$ for every $x$, since we ensured that property every time we defined another value of $g$ or $h$. $\Box$

This argument uses the axiom of choice, but perhaps there is an effective construction as in the injectivity question.

The answer is yes.

Theorem. Every function $f:\newcommand\R{\mathbb{R}}\R\to\R$ is the sum of two surjective functions, $f=g+h$. Indeed, we can find such $g$ and $h$ that are surjective on every nontrivial interval.

Proof. Enumerate the reals in order type continuum $\R=\{x_\alpha\mid\alpha<\frak{c}\}$. We define $g$ and $h$ in stages, so that at every stage, fewer than continuum many values have been specified. To ensure surjectivity, we look at $x_\alpha$, and define $g(a)=x_\alpha$ for some $a$ for which $g(a)$ is not yet specified, and $h(a)=f(a)-g(a)$, and similarly $h(b)=x_\alpha$ and $g(b)=f(b)-h(b)$ for some $b$ similarly not yet used. And we also make sure $g(x_\alpha)$ and $h(x_\alpha)$ are defined, if they haven't yet been, by using $f(x_\alpha)/2$ for each. At each stage, the domains of the approximations to $g$ and $h$ are the same.

This defines two functions $g$ and $h$, and they will both be surjective, because at stage $\alpha$ we specifically placed $x_\alpha$ into their ranges, and we will have $g(x)+h(x)=f(x)$ for every $x$, since we ensured that property every time we defined another value of $g$ or $h$.

A simple modification of the argument will enable $g$ and $h$ to be surjective even when restricted to any interval, no matter how small. The reason is that we can enumerate the $x_\alpha$ along with rational intervals, and find $a$ and $b$ within the desired interval. $\Box$

The argument uses the axiom of choice, but perhaps there is an effective construction as in the injectivity question.

added 67 characters in body
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Joel David Hamkins
  • 236.5k
  • 44
  • 777
  • 1.4k

The answer is yes.

Theorem. Every function $f:\newcommand\R{\mathbb{R}}\R\to\R$ is the sum of two surjective functions, $f=g+h$.

To see this, enumerateProof. Enumerate the reals in order type continuum $\R=\{x_\alpha\mid\alpha<\frak{c}\}$. We define $g$ and $h$ in stages, so that at every stage, fewer than continuum many values have been specified. To ensure surjectivity, we look at $x_\alpha$, and define $g(a)=x_\alpha$ for some $a$ for which $g(a)$ is not yet specified, and $h(a)=f(a)-g(a)$, and similarly $h(b)=x_\alpha$ and $g(b)=f(b)-h(b)$ for some $b$ similarly not yet used. And we also make sure $g(x_\alpha)$ and $h(x_\alpha)$ are defined, if they haven't yet been, by using $f(x_\alpha)/2$ for each. At each stage, the domains of the approximations to $g$ and $h$ are the same.

This defines two functions $g$ and $h$, and they will both be surjective, because at stage $\alpha$ we specifically placed $x_\alpha$ into their ranges, and we will have $g(x)+h(x)=f(x)$ for every $x$, since we ensured that property every time we defined another value of $g$ or $h$. $\Box$

This argument uses the axiom of choice, but perhaps there is an effective construction as in the other questionthe injectivity question.

The answer is yes.

Every function $f:\newcommand\R{\mathbb{R}}\R\to\R$ is the sum of two surjective functions, $f=g+h$.

To see this, enumerate the reals in order type continuum $\R=\{x_\alpha\mid\alpha<\frak{c}\}$. We define $g$ and $h$ in stages, so that at every stage, fewer than continuum many values have been specified. To ensure surjectivity, we look at $x_\alpha$, and define $g(a)=x_\alpha$ for some $a$ for which $g(a)$ is not yet specified, and $h(a)=f(a)-g(a)$, and similarly $h(b)=x_\alpha$ and $g(b)=f(b)-h(b)$ for some $b$ similarly not yet used. And we also make sure $g(x_\alpha)$ and $h(x_\alpha)$ are defined, if they haven't yet been, by using $f(x_\alpha)/2$ for each.

This defines two functions $g$ and $h$, and they will both be surjective, because at stage $\alpha$ we specifically placed $x_\alpha$ into their ranges, and we will have $g(x)+h(x)=f(x)$ for every $x$, since we ensured that property every time we defined another value of $g$ or $h$.

This argument uses the axiom of choice, but perhaps there is an effective construction as in the other question.

The answer is yes.

Theorem. Every function $f:\newcommand\R{\mathbb{R}}\R\to\R$ is the sum of two surjective functions, $f=g+h$.

Proof. Enumerate the reals in order type continuum $\R=\{x_\alpha\mid\alpha<\frak{c}\}$. We define $g$ and $h$ in stages, so that at every stage, fewer than continuum many values have been specified. To ensure surjectivity, we look at $x_\alpha$, and define $g(a)=x_\alpha$ for some $a$ for which $g(a)$ is not yet specified, and $h(a)=f(a)-g(a)$, and similarly $h(b)=x_\alpha$ and $g(b)=f(b)-h(b)$ for some $b$ similarly not yet used. And we also make sure $g(x_\alpha)$ and $h(x_\alpha)$ are defined, if they haven't yet been, by using $f(x_\alpha)/2$ for each. At each stage, the domains of the approximations to $g$ and $h$ are the same.

This defines two functions $g$ and $h$, and they will both be surjective, because at stage $\alpha$ we specifically placed $x_\alpha$ into their ranges, and we will have $g(x)+h(x)=f(x)$ for every $x$, since we ensured that property every time we defined another value of $g$ or $h$. $\Box$

This argument uses the axiom of choice, but perhaps there is an effective construction as in the injectivity question.

added 30 characters in body
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Joel David Hamkins
  • 236.5k
  • 44
  • 777
  • 1.4k

The answer is yes.

Every function $f:\newcommand\R{\mathbb{R}}\R\to\R$ is the sum of two surjective functions, $f=g+h$.

To see this, enumerate the reals in order type continuum $\R=\{x_\alpha\mid\alpha<\frak{c}\}$. We define $g$ and $h$ in stages, so that at every stage, fewer than continuum many values have been specified. To ensure surjectivity, we look at $x_\alpha$, and define $g(a)=x_\alpha$ for some $a$ for which $g(a)$ is not yet specified, and $h(a)=f(a)-g(a)$, and similarly $h(b)=x_\alpha$ and $g(b)=f(b)-h(b)$ for some $b$ similarly not yet used. And we also make sure $g(x_\alpha)$ and $h(x_\alpha)$ are defined, if they haven't yet been, by using $f(x_\alpha)/2$ for each.

This defines two functions $g$ and $h$, and they will both be surjective, because at stage $\alpha$ we specifically placed $x_\alpha$ into their ranges, and we will have $g(x)+h(x)=f(x)$ for every $x$, since we ensured that property every time we defined another value of $g$ or $h$.

This argument uses the axiom of choice, but perhaps there is an effective construction as in the other question.

The answer is yes.

Every function $f:\newcommand\R{\mathbb{R}}\R\to\R$ is the sum of two surjective functions, $f=g+h$.

To see this, enumerate the reals in order type continuum $\R=\{x_\alpha\mid\alpha<\frak{c}\}$. We define $g$ and $h$ in stages, so that at every stage, fewer than continuum many values have been specified. To ensure surjectivity, we look at $x_\alpha$, and define $g(a)=x_\alpha$ for some $a$ not yet specified, and $h(a)=f(a)-g(a)$, and similarly $h(b)=x_\alpha$ and $g(b)=f(b)-h(b)$ for some $b$ not yet used. And we also make sure $g(x_\alpha)$ and $h(x_\alpha)$ are defined, if they haven't yet been, by using $f(x_\alpha)/2$ for each.

This defines two functions $g$ and $h$, and they will both be surjective, because at stage $\alpha$ we specifically placed $x_\alpha$ into their ranges, and we will have $g(x)+h(x)=f(x)$ for every $x$, since we ensured that property every time we defined another value of $g$ or $h$.

This argument uses the axiom of choice, but perhaps there is an effective construction as in the other question.

The answer is yes.

Every function $f:\newcommand\R{\mathbb{R}}\R\to\R$ is the sum of two surjective functions, $f=g+h$.

To see this, enumerate the reals in order type continuum $\R=\{x_\alpha\mid\alpha<\frak{c}\}$. We define $g$ and $h$ in stages, so that at every stage, fewer than continuum many values have been specified. To ensure surjectivity, we look at $x_\alpha$, and define $g(a)=x_\alpha$ for some $a$ for which $g(a)$ is not yet specified, and $h(a)=f(a)-g(a)$, and similarly $h(b)=x_\alpha$ and $g(b)=f(b)-h(b)$ for some $b$ similarly not yet used. And we also make sure $g(x_\alpha)$ and $h(x_\alpha)$ are defined, if they haven't yet been, by using $f(x_\alpha)/2$ for each.

This defines two functions $g$ and $h$, and they will both be surjective, because at stage $\alpha$ we specifically placed $x_\alpha$ into their ranges, and we will have $g(x)+h(x)=f(x)$ for every $x$, since we ensured that property every time we defined another value of $g$ or $h$.

This argument uses the axiom of choice, but perhaps there is an effective construction as in the other question.

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Joel David Hamkins
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