Maths WorkshopMaths problems with full solutions
Exercise 1891Topology › Topology of ℝⁿM1Added 3 Nov 2026

Baire category theorem for $\mathbb{R}^n$

#Baire#complete metric#category

Statement

State Baire's theorem for Rn\mathbb{R}^n and explain its use for the existence of functions continuous nowhere differentiable.

Hint

Rn\mathbb{R}^n is a complete metric space; the set of continuous functions is meager in the space of all functions, but the set of nowhere-differentiable ones is residual.

Show solutionHide solution

Solution

Baire's theorem. In a complete metric space, a countable intersection of dense open sets is dense.

Application. In the space of continuous functions on [0,1][0,1] with the uniform norm, the set of nowhere-differentiable functions is a dense GδG_\delta (residual) — hence non-empty (in fact, "typical").

Conclusion. Baire's theorem forces the existence of highly irregular but continuous functions.