Find number of all continuous functions such that
, .
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Assuming f ( x ) is both continuous and differentiable, let y = x 2 such that the above functional equation transforms into:
f ( x ) + f ( y ) = x y
with the initial conditions at x = 0 , 1 ⇒ f ( 0 ) + f ( 0 2 ) = 0 → f ( 0 ) = 0 and f ( 1 ) + f ( 1 2 ) = 1 → f ( 1 ) = 2 1 . Differentiating the functional equation with respect to x and y each gives:
f ′ ( x ) = − x 2 y (i) and f ′ ( y ) = x 1 (ii)
and equating (i) with (ii) yields:
f ′ ( x ) = − x 2 y = − x y ⋅ f ′ ( y ) = x A (iii)
and integrating (iii) produces:
f ( x ) = A ⋅ l n ( x ) + B (iv).
Because we have a logarithmic function, the initial condition f ( 0 ) = 0 cannot be applied. The other condition can be applied, which yields:
A ⋅ l n ( 1 ) + B = 2 1 ⇒ B = 2 1 , or f ( x ) = A ⋅ l n ( x ) + 2 1 . (v)
A final substitution of (v) into the original functional equation now produces:
[ A ⋅ l n ( x ) + 2 1 ] + [ A ⋅ l n ( x 2 ) + 2 1 ] ⇒ 3 A ⋅ l n ( x ) + 1 = x ;
which does not hold true for ALL x ∈ [ 0 , 1 ] . Thus, no such function exists!