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$\phi : \mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ is a function with the property that whenever a sequence $f_n : \mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}, n=1,2,...$ converges uniformly, so does $\phi\circ f_n$. Show $\phi$ is uniformly continuous.

Attempt) Suppose $\phi$ is not uniformly continuous. Then there is an $\varepsilon>0$ such that for every $\delta>0$, there exist $x,y\in\mathbb{R}$ with $\mid x-y\mid<\delta$ but $\mid\phi(x)-\phi(y)\mid\geq\varepsilon$. So for $n=1,2,...$, there exist $x_n,y_n$ such that $\mid x_n-y_n\mid<\frac{1}{n}$ but $\mid\phi(x_n)-\phi(y_n)\mid\geq\varepsilon$. I am trying to find a uniformly convergent sequence $f_n$ for which $\phi\circ f_n$ does not converge uniformly to draw a contradiction.

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Let $f(x)=x$ and $f_n(x)=x+(x_n-y_n)$. Then $f_n \to f$ uniformly so $\sup_x |\phi(x+(x_n-y_n))-\phi (x)| \to 0$. In particular, (taking $x=y_n$) this gives $|\phi(x_n)-\phi(y_n)| \to 0$, a contradiction.

EDIT Identifying the limit of $\phi (f_n)$: by considering constant functions we see that $x_n \to x$ implies $\lim\phi(x_n)$ exists. Now look at $(x_1,x,x_2,x,...)$. This sequence also converges and hence $(\phi (x_1), \phi (x),\phi (x_2), \phi (x),...)$ converges. This implies that $\phi (x_n) \to \phi (x)$.

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  • $\begingroup$ Does $\phi\circ f_n$ converge to $\phi\circ f$? $\endgroup$
    – user682705
    Dec 23, 2019 at 14:07
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    $\begingroup$ @user682705 I have edited my answer. $\endgroup$ Dec 23, 2019 at 23:17

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