# Tagged Questions

The name "functional equation" is used for problems where the goal is to find all functions satisfying the given equation (and maybe some other conditions). So in this case, solving the equation means finding all functions fulfilling the equation. (This is different from the more common use of the ...

learn more… | top users | synonyms

3answers
1k views

### Is there a name for function with the exponential property $f(x+y)=f(x) \times f(y)$?

I was wondering if there is a name for a function that satisfies the conditions $f:\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ and $f(x+y)=f(x) \times f(y)$? Thanks and regards!
1answer
379 views

### continuous functions on $\mathbb R$ such that $g(x+y)=g(x)g(y)$

Let $g$ be a function on $\mathbb R$ to $\mathbb R$ which is not identically zero and which satisfies the equation $g(x+y)=g(x)g(y)$ for $x$,$y$ in $\mathbb R$. $g(0)=1$. If $a=g(1)$,then $a>0$ ...
2answers
2k views

### If $f(xy)=f(x)f(y)$ then show that $f(x) = x^t$ for some t

Let $f(xy) =f(x)f(y)$ for all $x,y\geq 0$. Show that $f(x) = x^p$ for some $p$. I am not very experienced with proof. If we let $g(x)=\log (f(x))$ then this is the same as \$g(xy) = g(x) + ...
3answers
516 views

### Classifying Functions of the form $f(x+y)=f(x)f(y)$ [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Is there a name for such kind of function? The question is: is there a nice characterization of all nonnegative functions $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that ...
3answers
744 views

### Proving that an additive function $f$ is continuous if it is continuous at a single point

Suppose that $f$ is continuous at $x_0$ and $f$ satisfies $f(x)+f(y)=f(x+y)$. Then how can we prove that $f$ is continuous at $x$ for all $x$? I seems to have problem doing anything with it. Thanks in ...
2answers
323 views

### On sort-of-linear functions

Background A function $f: \mathbb{R}^n \rightarrow \mathbb{R} \$ is linear if it satisfies $$(1)\;\; f(x+y) = f(x) + f(y) \ , \ and$$ $$(2)\;\; f(\alpha x) = \alpha f(x)$$ for all \$ x,y \in ...
1answer
409 views

### Solution(s) to $f(x + y) = f(x) + f(y)$ (and miscellaneous questions…)

My lecturer was talking today (in the context of probability, more specifically Kolmogorov's axioms) about the additive property of functions, namely that: $$f(x+y) = f(x) + f(y)$$ I've been trying ...
2answers
417 views

### If $f\colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ is such that $f (x + y) = f (x) f (y)$ and continuous at $0$, then continuous everywhere

Prove that if $f\colon\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ is such that $f(x+y)=f(x)f(y)$ for all $x,y$, and $f$ is continuous at $0$, then it is continuous everywhere. If there exists $c \in \mathbb{R}$ ...
3answers
455 views

### How to calculate $f(x)$ in $f(f(x)) = e^x$?

How would I calculate the power series of $f(x)$ if $f(f(x)) = e^x$? Is there a faster-converging method than power series for fractional iteration/functional square roots?
2answers
572 views

### $f(x+1)=f(x)+1$ and $f(x^2)=f(x)^2$

A function that satisfies both $f(x+1)=f(x)+1$ and $f(x^2)=f(x)^2$ for all real $x$ is known to be the identity over $\mathbb Q$, but is it also the identity over $\mathbb R$? If not, can you provide ...
2answers
446 views

### Entire functions such that $f(z^{2})=f(z)^{2}$

I'm having trouble solving this one. Could you help me? Characterize the entire functions such that $f(z^{2})=f(z)^{2}$ for all $z\in \mathbb{C}$. Hint: Divide in the cases $f(0)=1$ and $f(0)=0$. ...
5answers
799 views

### Find polynomials such that $(x-16)p(2x)=16(x-1)p(x)$

Find all polynomials $p(x)$ such that for all $x$, we have $$(x-16)p(2x)=16(x-1)p(x)$$ I tried working out with replacing $x$ by $\frac{x}{2},\frac{x}{4},\cdots$, to have $p(2x) \to p(0)$ but then ...
1answer
221 views

### Iterated polynomial problem

Polynomial $P$ satisfies $P(n)>n$ for all positive integers $n$. Every positive integer $m$ is a factor of some number of the form $P(1),P(P(1)),P(P(P(1))),\ldots$. Prove that $P(x)=x+1$.
1answer
436 views

### Solution for exponential function's functional equation by using a definition of derivative

let $f(0)=1$ and $f'(0)=1$. and $f(x+y)=f(x)f(y)$ for $x,y\in R$. How can I found $f(x)$ by using a definition of derivative?
2answers
281 views

### Graph of discontinuous linear function is dense

$f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ is a function such that for all $x,y$ in $\mathbb{R}$, $f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)$. If $f$ is cont, then of course it has to be linear. But here $f$ is NOT cont. Then show ...
3answers
2k views

### The easy(?) part of IMO 2011 Problem 3

Let $f : \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ be a real-valued function defined on the set of real numbers that satisfies $$f(x + y) \leq yf(x) + f(f(x))$$ for all real numbers $x$ and $y$. How can I prove that ...
3answers
419 views

### a continuous function satisfying $f(f(f(x)))=-x$ other than $f(x)=-x$

My question is about existence of a non-trivial solution of the functional equation $f(f(f(x)))=-x$ where $f$ is a continuous function defined on $\mathbb{R}$. Also, what about the general one ...
8answers
923 views

### How to find the function $f$ given $f(f(x)) = 2x$?

I was wondered how to find the function in this equality: $f(f(x))=2x$. Also $f$ is continuous. I don't need the answer, how to find it is more important.
3answers
267 views

### Inverse function of $y=W(e^{ax+b})-W(e^{cx+d})+zx$

I have a simple question for which I am looking for a closed form expression (If there exits one). In other words, given: $$y=W(e^{ax+b})-W(e^{cx+d})+zx$$ where $W$ is the Lambert $W$ function and ...
4answers
494 views

### Solving the functional equation $f(x+1) - f(x-1) = g(x)$

Given a function $g(x)$, is it possible to find a function $f(x)$ that satisfies $$f(x+1) - f(x-1) = g(x)$$
4answers
244 views

### 3rd iterate of a continuous function equals identity function

If $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ is continuous, and $\forall x \in \mathbb{R} :\;(f \circ f \circ f)(x) = x$, show that $f(x) = x$. The condition that $f$ is continuous on $\mathbb{R}$ is ...
2answers
182 views

### $f(z_1 z_2) = f(z_1) f(z_2)$ for $z_1,z_2\in \mathbb{C}$ then $f(z) = z^k$ for some $k$

Same as my previous question except domain is complex. I tried assuming that the function was analytic, so for $z_1=z_2=z$ , $f(z^2) = f(z)^2$ \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n z^{2n}=\left(\sum_{n=0}^\infty ...
1answer
142 views

### A question concerning on the axiom of choice and Cauchy functional equation

The Cauchy functional equation: $$f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)$$ has solutions called 'additive functions'. If no conditions are imposed to $f$, there are infinitely many functions that satisfy the equation, ...
2answers
51 views

### Finding Value, Related To Functional Equation

$f(x)$ is continuous for $\forall x \in R$ and $f(2x)-f(x)=x^{3}$ (1) $f(x)+f(-x)$ is constant ? (2) $f(0)=0$ ? I don't know how to use the continuity. especially for $f(0)=0$ ?
2answers
53 views

### What's the solution of the functional equation

I need help with this: "Find all functions $f$, $g : \mathbb{Z} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}$, with $g$ injective and such that: $$f(g(x)+y) = g(f(x)+y), \mbox{ for all } x, y \in \mathbb{Z}.$$
1answer
171 views

### Functions $f$ satisfying $f\circ f(x)=2f(x)-x,\forall x\in\mathbb{R}$.

How to prove that the continuous functions $f$ on $\mathbb{R}$ satisfying $$f\circ f(x)=2f(x)-x,\forall x\in\mathbb{R},$$ are given by $$f(x)=x+a,a\in\mathbb{R}.$$ Any hints are welcome. Thanks.
4answers
584 views

### Solving for the implicit function $f\left(f(x)y+\frac{x}{y}\right)=xyf\left(x^2+y^2\right)$ and $f(1)=1$

How can I find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ such that $f(1)=1$ and $$f\left(f(x)y+\frac{x}{y}\right)=xyf\left(x^2+y^2\right)$$ for all real numbers $x$ and $y$ with $y\neq0$? PS. This is ...
6answers
689 views

### Find all polynomials $P$ such that $P(x^2+1)=P(x)^2+1$

Find all polynomials $P$ such that $P(x^2+1)=P(x)^2+1$
3answers
611 views

### Continuous function satisfying $f^{k}(x)=f(x^k)$

How does one set out to find all continuous functions $f:\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ which satisfy $f^{k}(x)=f(x^k)$ , where $k \in \mathbb{N}$? Motivation: Is $\sin(n^k) ≠ (\sin n)^k$ in general?
3answers
3k views

### Prove that this function is bounded

This is an exercise from Problems from the Book by Andreescu and Dospinescu. When it was posted on AoPS a year ago I spent several hours trying to solve it, but to no avail, so I am hoping someone ...
4answers
451 views

### Solving (quadratic) equations of iterated functions, such as $f(f(x))=f(x)+x$

In this thread, the question was to find a $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ such that $$f(f(x)) = f(x) + x$$ (which was revealed in the comments to be solved by $f(x) = \varphi x$ where $\varphi$ is ...
1answer
207 views

### Is there a real-valued function $f$ such that $f(f(x)) = -x$?

Is there a function $f\colon \mathbb{R} \to\mathbb{R}$ such that $f(f(x)) = -x$ ?
1answer
270 views

### Riemann's thinking on symmetrizing the zeta functional equation

In the translated version of Riemann's classic On the Number of Prime Numbers less than a Given Quantity, he quickly derives the zeta functional equation through contour integration essentially as ...
3answers
155 views

### $f(x^2) = 2f(x)$ and $f(x)$ continuous

I ran into a problem recently where I obtained the following constraint on a function. $$f(x^2) = 2f(x) \,\,\,\, \forall x \geq 0$$ and the function $f(x)$ is continuous. Can we conclude that $f(x)$ ...
3answers
145 views

### Is there a non-constant function $f:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$ that sums to 0 on corners of squares?

A problem in the 2009 Putnam asks about functions $f:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}$ such that whenever $A,B,C,D$ are corners of some square we have $f(A)+f(B)+f(C)+f(D)=0$. Without spoiling the problem ...
4answers
402 views

### thoughts about $f(f(x))=e^x$

I was thinking, inspired by mathlinks, precisely from this post, if there exists a continuous real function $f:\mathbb R\to\mathbb R$ such that $$f(f(x))=e^x.$$ However I have not still been able to ...
2answers
318 views

### very elementary proof of Maxwell's theorem

Maxwell's theorem (after James Clerk Maxwell) says that if a function $f(x_1,\ldots,x_n)$ of $n$ real variables is a product $f_1(x_1)\cdots f_n(x_n)$ and is rotation-invariant in the sense that the ...
2answers
124 views

### Functional Equation: a little tricky

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that $f[f(x)^2+f(y)]=xf(x)+y$ for all real numbers $x$ and $y$. Clearly $f(x)=x$ is a solution, check by substitution. I'm at a loss as ...
2answers
248 views

### Evaluating $f(x) f(x/2) f(x/4) f(x/8) \cdots$

Let $f : \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ be a given function with $\lvert f(x) \rvert \le 1$ and $f(0) = 1$. Is there a nice simplified expression for \begin{align}F(x) &= f(x) f(x/2) f(x/4) f(x/8) ...
1answer
93 views

### If $g(x) := \int_1^2 f(xt)dt \equiv 0$ then  $f \equiv 0$

Let $f \colon \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ be a continuous function. Let's define $$g(x) := \int_1^2 f(xt)dt.$$ Prove that $g \equiv 0 \Rightarrow f \equiv 0$. Well, I show you what I have ...
1answer
113 views

### Recurrence relations on a continuous domain

While attempting to read Shannon's paper I came across the following (p. 3): suppose $N\colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ is a function, which for some fixed (given) set of values \$t_1, t_2, \dots, ...
3answers
320 views

### Finding an $f(x)$ that satisfies $f(f(x)) = 4 - 3x$

I need to find $f(f(x)) = 4 - 3x$ In other examples, such as $f(2)$, I can see that the result equates to $-2$ or $f(x^2)$ becomes $-3x^2 + 4$. Do I really just substitute $f(x)$ for $x$ and ...
2answers
841 views

### Converting polar equation to cartesian coordinate polar equation and back again?

OK, so I have the following polar equation: $r = Θ/20$ And I would like to translate this a little to the right, and down from the polar origin. Now, I figure since I know cartesian coordinate ...
2answers
487 views

### Solving the functional Equation $f(f(x))=f(x)+x$

Let $f$ be continuous on $\mathbb{R}$. Then how to find all continuous functions satisfying $f(f(x))=f(x)+x$
1answer
368 views

### Which trigonometric identities involve trigonometric functions?

Once upon a time, when Wikipedia was only three-and-a-half years old and most people didn't know what it was, the article titled functional equation gave the identity  \sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta = 1 ...
2answers
518 views

### How to prove $f(x)=ax$ if $f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)$ and $f$ is locally integrable

Suppose $f(x)$ is integrable in any bounded interval on $\mathbb R$, and it satisfies the equation $f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)$ on $\mathbb R$. How to prove $f(x)=ax$?
1answer
167 views

### $f(x+f(y))=f(x)+y^n$

Here is the problem: Fix $n\in\mathbb{N}$. Find all monotonic solutions $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ such that $f(x+f(y))=f(x)+y^n$. I've tried to show that $f(0)=0$ and derive some ...
0answers
143 views

### Vector valued contraction

I am familiar with the Banach Fixed Point Theorem and I have used it to prove existence and uniqueness of functional equations in Banach spaces like $C(X)$, the space of bounded continuous function ...
2answers
300 views

### Implicit function $y = e^{(y-1)/x}$

I'd like to know if the function $y = f(x) : [0,1] \rightarrow [0,1]$ defined implicitly by the transcendental equation $$\displaystyle y = e^{(y-1)/x}$$ is "well known" (name, properties) or is ...
1answer
212 views

### About finding the function such that $f(xy)=f(x)f(y)-f(x+y)+1$

Define a function $f\colon\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ which satisfies $$f(xy)=f(x)f(y)-f(x+y)+1$$ for all $x,y\in\mathbb Q$. With a supp condition $f(1)=2$. (I didn't notice that.) How to show that ...
{"extraction_info": {"found_math": true, "script_math_tex": 0, "script_math_asciimath": 0, "math_annotations": 0, "math_alttext": 0, "mathml": 0, "mathjax_tag": 0, "mathjax_inline_tex": 213, "mathjax_display_tex": 18, "mathjax_asciimath": 0, "img_math": 0, "codecogs_latex": 0, "wp_latex": 0, "mimetex.cgi": 0, "/images/math/codecogs": 0, "mathtex.cgi": 0}, "config": {"markdown_headings": true, "markdown_code": true, "boilerplate_config": {"ratio_threshold": 0.3, "absolute_threshold": 10, "end_threshold": 15, "enable": true}, "remove_buttons": true, "remove_image_figures": true, "remove_link_clusters": true, "table_config": {"min_rows": 2, "min_cols": 3, "format": "github"}, "remove_chinese": true, "remove_edit_buttons": true, "extract_latex": true}, "english_confidence": 0.9343756437301636, "perplexity_flag": "head"}