INMO!

Algebra Level 4

how many real functions f are there from R → R satisfying the relation f(x^2 +yf(x)) = xf(x+y).


The answer is 2.

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3 solutions

Joe Mansley
Apr 23, 2017

Substitute y=0 and we get f ( x 2 ) = x f ( x ) f({ x }^{ 2 })=xf(x) .

Let's say f ( x ) = x g ( x ) f(x)=xg(x) , then we get

g ( x 2 ) = g ( x ) g({ x }^{ 2 })=g(x) .

It follows that g ( x ) = c g(x)=c and f ( x ) = c x f(x)=cx

Plugging back into the original equation, the solutions for c are 0 and 1 so f ( x ) = 0 f(x)=0 or f ( x ) = x f(x)=x

Thus, we have 2 solutions.

Amazing. I got f(f(0))=0, which meant f(y)=0 and x^2-xf(x)=0 which means f(x)=x. Mine and your solution both are elegant, but yours was much better pal.

Alex Fullbuster - 2 years, 1 month ago

How can you conclude that g(x) = c from g(x^2)=g(x) ?

Vedant Saini - 1 year, 10 months ago

Log in to reply

I can't. I was wrong.

Joe Mansley - 1 year, 10 months ago
Tom Engelsman
Apr 8, 2017

Upon observation, f ( x ) = a x f(x) = ax , a R . a \in \mathbb{R}. Substituting this function into the above functional equation yields:

a ( x 2 + a x y ) = x ( a x + a y ) a x 2 + a 2 x y = a x 2 + a x y a 2 = a = a = 0 , 1 a(x^2 + axy) = x(ax + ay) \Rightarrow ax^2 + a^2xy = ax^2 + axy \Rightarrow a^2 = a =\Rightarrow a = 0,1 .

Hence, we have f ( x ) = 0 f(x) = 0 or f ( x ) = x f(x) = x .

Syed Baqir
Sep 19, 2015

the ans is 2

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