Lipschitz-like function which is nowhere differentiable function

I've been trying this problem from Stein, but with no luck.

Consider the function $$f_{1}(x)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}{2^{-n} e^{2\pi i 2^{n} x} }.$$ a) Prove that $f_{1}$ satisfies $|f_{1}(x)-f_{1}(y)| \leq A_{\alpha}|x-y|^{\alpha}$ for each $\alpha \in (0,1)$.

b) $f_{1}$ is nowhere differentiable hence not of bounded variation.

It sounds beautiful and I was wondering if there's any nice proof. A friend tells me there's a more general theory about some so-called Hilbert functions which justify this, but I'm interested in something easier!

Thanks!

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What is $\alpha$? – Martin Argerami Mar 28 '12 at 5:03
Do you mean that for each $\alpha$ there exists $A_\alpha$ such that $|f_1(x) - f_1(y)|\leq A_\alpha|x - y|^\alpha$? Or do you mean that there exists an $\alpha\in(0,1)$ and $A_\alpha > 0$ such that the above inequality holds? (I think it's the latter, since the former would imply that $f_1$ is Lipschitz). If it is the latter, then you can simply say that $f_1$ is $\alpha$-Hölder continuous; see here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B6lder_condition. – user12918723509187 Mar 28 '12 at 5:04
The former actually! Edited – Anna Mar 28 '12 at 5:11
@WNY: Why would the former imply that $f_1$ is Lipschitz? – Did Mar 28 '12 at 5:20
@Didier: The OP didn't introduce $\alpha$ and $A_\alpha$ in the original post, and I was making guesses; it was only after I posted my comment that the OP edited the original question. Sorry for the confusion. – user12918723509187 Mar 28 '12 at 6:11

Triangle Inequality and Mean Value Theorem yield \begin{align} |f_1(x)-f_1(y)| &\le\sum_{n=0}^\infty2^{-n}\left|e^{2\pi i2^nx}-e^{2\pi i2^ny}\right|\\ &=\sum_{n=0}^\infty2^{-n}\left|e^{2\pi i2^nx}-e^{2\pi i2^ny}\right|^{1-\alpha}\left|e^{2\pi i2^nx}-e^{2\pi i2^ny}\right|^\alpha\\ &\le\sum_{n=0}^\infty2^{-n}2^{1-\alpha}(2\pi2^n)^\alpha|x-y|^\alpha\\ &=2\pi^\alpha\frac{1}{1-2^{\alpha-1}}|x-y|^\alpha\\ &=A_\alpha|x-y|^\alpha \end{align} Note that as $\alpha\to1^-$, $A_\alpha\to\infty$.
Hardy proves in Theorem $1.31$ of Weierstrass's Non-Differentiable Function that $f_1$ is nowhere differentiable.
Lets divide the sum into two: $$\sum_{n=0}^{N}{2^{-n} e^{2\pi i 2^{n} x} } +\sum_{n=N+1}^{\infty}{2^{-n} e^{2\pi i 2^{n} x} }=S_1(x)+S_2(x).$$ The difference of the first sum can be estimated by the mean value theorem: $$|\Delta S_1(x)|\le \sum_{n=0}^{N}{2^{-n} (2\pi 2^{n} |\Delta x|)} =2\pi (N+1)|\Delta x|,$$ and the second are marjorized by the sum of an infinite geometric progression: $$|\Delta S_2(x)|\le \sum_{n=N+1}^{\infty}{2^{-n}}=2^{-N}.$$ Now for given $\Delta x$ one can choose $N$ s.t. both summands satisfy the required estimate.
It might be useful to compute the value of $A_\alpha$ that this method gives. Also note that $$|\Delta S_2(x)|\le 2\cdot\sum_{n=N+1}^{\infty}{2^{-n}}=2^{1-N}$$ – robjohn Mar 28 '12 at 20:46