# Does a nonlinear additive function on R imply a Hamel basis of R?

A function is additive if $f(x+y) = f(x) + f(y)$. Intuitively, it might seem that an additive function from R to R must be linear, specifically of the form $f(x) = kx$. But assuming the axiom of choice, that is wrong, and the proof is rather simple: you just take a Hamel basis of $\mathbb{R}$ as a vector space over $\mathbb{Q}$, and then you define your function f to be different in at least two distinct elements of the basis.

But my question is this: if there is no Hamel basis of $\mathbb{R}$, then must $f$ be linear? To put it another way, does ZF + the existence of a nonlinear additive function imply the existence of Hamel basis of $\mathbb{R}$?

I checked the Consequences of the Axiom of Choice Project, a database of choice axioms and their relationships here, and it said that it didn't know.

• I believe this is equivalent, but not sure where to find a proof or how to construct one. – Bombyx mori Apr 19 '13 at 2:38
• What reason do you have for thinking they're equivalent? It certainly seems intuitive that they'd be equivalent. But then again it may be intuitive that you could never have a nonlinear additive function under any circumstances. – Keshav Srinivasan Apr 19 '13 at 3:53
• No, it is not by intuition only. This is an old problem in Rudin's book, and I think if you do a proper search (for example, on the book "counterexamples in analysis") they consider the two being equivalent. I do not have time to think deeper, however. – Bombyx mori Apr 19 '13 at 4:39
• @user32240: I have doubts that people like Herrlich and Paul Howard who dedicated much of their career to AC related problems wouldn't know about that problem (unless Rudin didn't know it was open, and underestimated its difficulty). – Asaf Karagila Apr 19 '13 at 8:25
• user32240, I looked in Counteexamples in Analysis and as far I can tell, it only talks about a Hamel basis of R implies the existence of a discontinuous additive function, it doesn't discuss the converse. Do you know where in Rudin (and what book by Rudin) the problem you're talking about is in? – Keshav Srinivasan Apr 19 '13 at 17:44