Strange Functional Equation

Algebra Level 2

f ( x ) f(x) is an even function with codomain R . \mathbb{R}. Its graph is symmetric about the line x = 1 x=1 , and f ( x 1 + x 2 ) = f ( x 1 ) f ( x 2 ) f(x_{1}+x_{2})=f(x_{1})\cdot f(x_{2}) for any x 1 , x 2 [ 0 , 1 2 ] x_{1},x_{2}\in [0,\frac{1}{2}] , and f ( 1 ) > 0. f(1)> 0.

Let a n = f ( 2 n + 1 2 n ) a_{n}=f(2n+\frac{1}{2n}) . Find the value of lim n ( ln a n ) \displaystyle\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty }(\ln\: a_{n}) .


The answer is 0.

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2 solutions

Potsawee Manakul
Jul 10, 2015

From f ( x 1 + x 2 ) = f ( x 1 ) f ( x 2 ) f(x_{1}+x_{2})=f(x_{1})f(x_{2}) when x 1 = 0 x_{1}=0 we know that f ( 0 ) = 1 f(0)=1 It is an even function, and also has x=1 as an asymptote. Therefore, the function must be the same for the period of 2; for example, from x=-1 to x=1 is the same as from x=1 to x=3. Thus, f ( x ) = f ( x + 2 n ) f(x)=f(x+2n) when n is an integer

Hence, lim n l n ( f ( 2 n + 1 2 n ) ) = lim n l n ( f ( 1 2 n ) ) = l n ( f ( 0 ) ) = l n ( 1 ) = 0 \lim_{n\rightarrow \infty }ln(f(2n+\frac{1}{2n}))=\lim_{n\rightarrow \infty }ln(f(\frac{1}{2n}))=ln(f(0))=ln(1)=0

Nice Question ! Enjoyed solving it ! : ) :)

Keshav Tiwari - 5 years, 11 months ago

Awesome :) @Potsawee Manakul Also, for a bonus, what are f(0.5) and f(0.25)?

Jessica Wang - 5 years, 11 months ago

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Thank you for the follow-up questions. f(0.5+0.5) = a = [f(0.5)]^2 f(0.5) = sqrt(a) or -sqrt(a) but it can't be negative because if it is negative the graph must pass through the x-axis somewhere between 0 and 0.5 (if this happens, the equation f(x1+x2) = f(x1)f(x2) will not valid.)

Therefore, f(0.5) = sqrt(a) and with the same reason f(0.25) = a^(0.25)

Potsawee Manakul - 5 years, 11 months ago

@Jessica Wang @Potsawee Manakul the report forum ( not here) is different from the solution discussions (here).

Hope this helps to clarify things.

Calvin Lin Staff - 5 years, 9 months ago

l i m n ln ( f ( 1 2 n ) ) = ln ( f ( l i m n 1 2 n ) ) \underset{n\rightarrow\infty}{\mathrm{lim}}\ln\big(f(\frac{1}{2n})\big)=\ln\big(f(\underset{n\rightarrow\infty}{\mathrm{lim}}\frac{1}{2n})\big) only if f f is continuous at x = 0 x=0 .

Sadly, it will not be possible to show that f f is continuous there:

f ( x ) f(x) with period 2 defined as f ( x ) = { 2 x , x ] 1 ; 1 ] Q 0 , x ] 1 ; 1 ] Q f(x)=\begin{cases}2^{|x|},\!\!\!&x\in]-1;1]\cap\mathbb{Q}\\0,\!\!\!&x\in]-1;1]\setminus\mathbb{Q}\end{cases} is not continuous at x = 0 x=0 and satisfies the hypothesis.

(But the sharp-eyed @Calvin Lin has answered here and hasn't point that, so I can be mistaken.)

Laurent Shorts - 4 years, 3 months ago
Rimson Junio
Jul 14, 2015

It is easy to find out that the function is periodic with P = 2 P=2 , i.e. f ( x ) = f ( x + 2 ) f(x)=f(x+2) from the given symmetry equations: f ( x ) = f ( x ) f(x)=f(-x) and f ( 1 x ) = f ( 1 + x ) f(1-x)=f(1+x) . Also notice that f ( x 1 + x 2 ) = f ( x 1 ) f ( x 2 ) f(x_{1}+x_{2})=f(x_{1})\cdot f(x_{2}) can be extended to f ( x 1 + x 2 + x 3 + . . . + x 2 n ) = f ( x 1 ) f ( x 2 ) f ( x 3 ) . . . f ( x 2 n ) f(x_{1}+x_{2}+x_{3}+...+x_{2n})=f(x_{1})\cdot f(x_{2})\cdot f(x_{3})...f(x_{2n}) for the same domain. Suppose that x 1 = x 2 = x 3 = . . . = x 2 n = 1 2 n x_{1}=x_{2}=x_{3}=...=x_{2n}=\frac{1}{2n} which gives us f ( x 1 + x 2 + x 3 + . . . + x 2 n ) = f ( 1 ) = ( f ( 1 2 n ) ) 2 n f(x_{1}+x_{2}+x_{3}+...+x_{2n})=f(1)=(f(\frac{1}{2n}))^{2n} . Then a n = f ( 2 n + 1 2 n ) = f ( 1 2 n ) = a 1 2 n a_{n}=f(2n+\frac{1}{2n})=f(\frac{1}{2n})=a^\frac{1}{2n} . Thus, lim n ( ln a n ) = lim n ( 1 2 n ln a ) = 0 \displaystyle\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}(\ln\:a_{n})=\displaystyle\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}(\frac{1}{2n}\cdot\ln\:a)=0

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