Problem: assume that $f\in C^1(\mathbb{R}^2,\mathbb{R})$, prove that there exists a continuous injection $G:\mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^2$ s.t. $f \circ G$ is a constant function.
I 've come up with an uncomleted idea, and I'd like you help to me complete it. And I am aware of this post being similar to mine, but notice that it doesn't requires $G$ to be defined on $\mathbb{R}$.
I think we could apply the implicit function theorem. When $\partial_x f\equiv \partial_y f \equiv0$ it is trivial. So I considered the special case when there exists $(a,b)$ s.t. $\frac{\partial f}{\partial y}(a,b) \neq0$, and in this restriction I can find such a $G$ in a small neighborhood. My attempt is as follows.
Let $(a,b)\in \mathbb{R}^2, c=f(a,b).$ Consider $F: \mathbb{R}^2 \rightarrow \mathbb{R},(x,y) \mapsto f(x,y)-c$. Then $F(a,b)=0,\frac{\partial F}{\partial y}(a,b) \neq0$, by the implicit function theorem there exist $\epsilon >0$ and a unique $\phi \in C^1(B_\epsilon(a),\mathbb{R})$ s.t. $\forall x \in B_\epsilon(a),F(x, \phi(x))=0,$ hence $f(x,\phi(x)) =c$. So we consider $G:B_\epsilon(a) \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^2,x \mapsto (x,\phi(x)).$ Then $\forall x\in B_\epsilon(a) ,f \circ G (x)=c$. And $G$ is clearly continuous and injective.
So my main question is: how could I "extend" the domain of $G$, i.e, $B_{\epsilon}(a)$ to $\mathbb{R}$?
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cxh007
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No need to extend: an open interval is homeomorphic to $\Bbb R$. – Berci Oct 30 '20 at 12:40
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Hi @Berci. I just read ccc (https://math.stackexchange.com/users/32145/ccc), Homeomorphism of the real line-Topology, URL (version: 2012-11-23): https://math.stackexchange.com/q/242873, and I convinced myself that open interval is homeomorphic to $\mathbb{R}$. But what does it mean by "no need to extend"? Well, i haven't covered much topology. – cxh007 Oct 30 '20 at 13:00
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Don't extend, rather 'stretch' it, by simply composing with a homeomorphism $\Bbb R\to B_\epsilon(a)$. – Berci Oct 30 '20 at 13:16
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@Berci I think I got it. If we let $h:\mathbb{R} \rightarrow B_\epsilon(a),t\mapsto a-\epsilon +2\epsilon \frac{1}{1+2^{-t}},$ and our new $G_v :\mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^2, G_v=G \circ h,$ then we get $\forall x \in \mathbb{R} ,f \circ G_v(x)=c$. And $G_v$ is still continuous and injective. – cxh007 Oct 30 '20 at 13:35