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Suppose $ f\in L^1({\mathbb{R}}) $ satisfies $ f\ast f = f $. Show that $ f=0 $.

Proof: We know that $ \widehat{f\ast f}=\hat{f}^2 $ so the condition on f implies that

$ \hat{f}^2=\hat{f}\Rightarrow \hat{f}(\hat{f}-1)=0 \Rightarrow \hat{f}= 0 $ or $ \hat{f}=1 $

Since we also know that $ \lim_{|x|\to\infty}\hat{f}(x)=0 \Rightarrow \hat{f}=0 $

From the Inverse Fourier Transform we clearly see that $ f\equiv 0 $ a.e.

but since the convolution is define everywhere and $ f\ast f = 0\Rightarrow f = 0 $ everywhere.

Alumni Liaison

Abstract algebra continues the conceptual developments of linear algebra, on an even grander scale.

Dr. Paul Garrett