TITLE: If $ \frac{1}{2}A + \frac{1}{2}A \subset A $, and $A$ is closed, then $A$ is a convex set
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: I was just recently presented this very short problem in convex sets:

Suppose that $ A \subset R^n $ is a closed set satisfying $ \frac{1}{2}A + \frac{1}{2}A \subset A $, we are to show that A is a convex set.

Obviously this can be solved with topology in a brute force sort of way involving A being a closed set. I am not sure about it though, might there be a nice slick proof of this as I cannot really and formally write one myself. Help appreciated thanks

REPLY [11 votes]: Iterating the given, we obtain that
$$
\frac{1}{2^n} A + \frac{1}{2^n} A + \dots + \frac{1}{2^n}A \subset A
$$
where there are $2^n$ summands on the left.
Now, given $\lambda, \mu$ with $\lambda+\mu = 1$, for each $n$ take $k,m$ such that $\frac{k}{2^n}$ and $\frac{m}{2^n}$ are "close" to $\lambda, \mu$ and $k+m = 2^n$.
Then apply the above to conclude that for $x,y \in A$, we have $\frac{k}{2^n}x + \frac{m}{2^n}y \in A$.
Take $n \rightarrow \infty$ and use that $A$ is closed to get the conclusion.