Problem:
Let and be two real functions, defined for every real number. Furthermore, the following equation is to hold for all real numbers and :
Determine all possible pairs .
Problem:
Let and be two real functions, defined for every real number. Furthermore, the following equation is to hold for all real numbers and :
Determine all possible pairs .
Solution:
From the given equation (1) we obtain, for : (2). Thus (1) becomes (3), and with this becomes (4).
Replacing in (3) according to (4) yields, after subtracting :
(5).
With this gives, for : (6), which however also holds for , hence for all .
We set . Then holds, as well as, by (6): (6*), and, using (5) and (6*):
(7).
Interchanging and in (7) and equating the results yields (8). For it follows that . Hence , which obviously also holds for . With we obtain for all .
With it follows from (4) that . (2) yields , and comparing coefficients we must have , as well as .
Case 1: . This gives and , , so that (1) is satisfied.
Case 2: . Then , so , and is arbitrary. This gives , . For this pair of functions too, substituting into (1) yields a true statement. Hence the two solution pairs and with exist.