A peculiar functional equations question I found:
Find all functions f:Q→[−1,1]f:\mathbb{Q} \rightarrow [-1,1]f:Q→[−1,1] such that if xy=1xy=1xy=1 or x+y∈{0,1}x+y\in\{0,1\}x+y∈{0,1} for distinct rational xxx and yyy, then
f(x)f(y)=−1f(x) f(y) = -1f(x)f(y)=−1
Note by Sharky Kesa 5 years, 1 month ago
Easy Math Editor
This discussion board is a place to discuss our Daily Challenges and the math and science related to those challenges. Explanations are more than just a solution — they should explain the steps and thinking strategies that you used to obtain the solution. Comments should further the discussion of math and science.
When posting on Brilliant:
*italics*
_italics_
**bold**
__bold__
- bulleted- list
1. numbered2. list
paragraph 1paragraph 2
paragraph 1
paragraph 2
[example link](https://brilliant.org)
> This is a quote
This is a quote
# I indented these lines # 4 spaces, and now they show # up as a code block. print "hello world"
\(
\)
\[
\]
2 \times 3
2^{34}
a_{i-1}
\frac{2}{3}
\sqrt{2}
\sum_{i=1}^3
\sin \theta
\boxed{123}
Call the required functions as fii=1,2f_i \quad i=1,2fii=1,2.
Then,
fi(x)=fi({x})∀x∉{−12}∪Zfi(x)=fi(1)∀x∈Z+fi(x)=fi(0)∀x∈Z−Z+f1(x)=1∀x∈[0,12)∪{−12}f1(x)=−1∀x∈[12,1]f2(x)=−1∀x∈[0,12)∪{−12}f2(x)=1∀x∈[12,1]\begin{aligned} f_i(x)&=f_i(\{x\}) \quad \forall x \not\in \left\{-\frac{1}{2}\right\} \cup \mathbb{Z}\\ f_i(x)&=f_i(1) \quad \forall x \in \mathbb{Z}^+\\ f_i(x)&=f_i(0) \quad \forall x \in \mathbb{Z} - \mathbb{Z}^+\\ f_1(x)&= 1 \quad \forall x \in \left [0,\frac{1}{2} \right) \cup \left\{-\frac{1}{2}\right\} \\ f_1(x)&=-1 \quad \forall x \in \left[\frac{1}{2}, 1 \right]\\ f_2(x)&=-1 \quad \forall x \in \left[0,\frac{1}{2} \right) \cup \left\{-\frac{1}{2}\right\} \\ f_2(x)&=1 \quad \forall x \in \left[\frac{1}{2}, 1 \right] \end{aligned}fi(x)fi(x)fi(x)f1(x)f1(x)f2(x)f2(x)=fi({x})∀x∈{−21}∪Z=fi(1)∀x∈Z+=fi(0)∀x∈Z−Z+=1∀x∈[0,21)∪{−21}=−1∀x∈[21,1]=−1∀x∈[0,21)∪{−21}=1∀x∈[21,1]
@Sharky Kesa
Log in to reply
@Sharky Kesa What say?
Put x=y=1x=y=1x=y=1 then, we get (f(1))2=−1(f(1))^2=-1(f(1))2=−1.
Hence, no such function fff exists.
Sorry, I had meant to write for distinct xxx and yyy.
Then, we get ∣f(x)∣=1∀x∈Qf(x)f(1x)=−1∀x∈Q−{1,−1}f(x)f(−x)=−1∀x∈Q−{0}f(x)f(1−x)=−1∀x∈Q−{12} ⟹ f(1+x)=f(x)∀x∈Q−{0,−12}|f(x)|=1 \quad \forall x \in \mathbb{Q}\\f(x)f(\frac{1}{x})=-1 \quad \forall x \in \mathbb{Q}-\{1,-1\}\\f(x)f(-x)=-1 \quad \forall x \in \mathbb{Q}-\{0\}\\f(x)f(1-x)=-1 \quad \forall x \in \mathbb{Q}-\left\{\frac{1}{2}\right\}\\\implies f(1+x)=f(x) \quad \forall x \in \mathbb{Q}-\left\{0,\frac{-1}{2}\right\}∣f(x)∣=1∀x∈Qf(x)f(x1)=−1∀x∈Q−{1,−1}f(x)f(−x)=−1∀x∈Q−{0}f(x)f(1−x)=−1∀x∈Q−{21}⟹f(1+x)=f(x)∀x∈Q−{0,2−1}
@A Former Brilliant Member – This doesn't give us a rule for fff per se but it's a good starting.
@Sharky Kesa – Working on figuring f(−1/2)f(-1/2)f(−1/2) and on [0,1]...
@A Former Brilliant Member – My hint is to consider continued fractions for all rational values.
@Sharky Kesa – Well, I don't know much about continued fractions...
Thanks for the hint anyways.
It should say x+y∈{0,1}x + y \in \{0,1\}x+y∈{0,1}.
Problem Loading...
Note Loading...
Set Loading...
Easy Math Editor
This discussion board is a place to discuss our Daily Challenges and the math and science related to those challenges. Explanations are more than just a solution — they should explain the steps and thinking strategies that you used to obtain the solution. Comments should further the discussion of math and science.
When posting on Brilliant:
*italics*
or_italics_
**bold**
or__bold__
paragraph 1
paragraph 2
[example link](https://brilliant.org)
> This is a quote
\(
...\)
or\[
...\]
to ensure proper formatting.2 \times 3
2^{34}
a_{i-1}
\frac{2}{3}
\sqrt{2}
\sum_{i=1}^3
\sin \theta
\boxed{123}
Comments
Call the required functions as fii=1,2.
Then,
fi(x)fi(x)fi(x)f1(x)f1(x)f2(x)f2(x)=fi({x})∀x∈{−21}∪Z=fi(1)∀x∈Z+=fi(0)∀x∈Z−Z+=1∀x∈[0,21)∪{−21}=−1∀x∈[21,1]=−1∀x∈[0,21)∪{−21}=1∀x∈[21,1]
@Sharky Kesa
Log in to reply
@Sharky Kesa What say?
Put x=y=1 then, we get (f(1))2=−1.
Hence, no such function f exists.
@Sharky Kesa
Log in to reply
Sorry, I had meant to write for distinct x and y.
Log in to reply
Then, we get ∣f(x)∣=1∀x∈Qf(x)f(x1)=−1∀x∈Q−{1,−1}f(x)f(−x)=−1∀x∈Q−{0}f(x)f(1−x)=−1∀x∈Q−{21}⟹f(1+x)=f(x)∀x∈Q−{0,2−1}
Log in to reply
f per se but it's a good starting.
This doesn't give us a rule forLog in to reply
f(−1/2) and on [0,1]...
Working on figuringLog in to reply
Log in to reply
Thanks for the hint anyways.
It should say x+y∈{0,1}.