A function f:R→R satisfies for all real x and y the equation 2f(x)(f(y))2+y2f(−x∣y∣)=f(xy2). Find all possible values of f(1).
Solution
Denote f(1)=a and f(−1)=b. Choosing x=y=1 and x=y=−1 yields the system of equations {2a3+b=a2b3+a=b Adding the equations and cancelling equal terms, we get 2b3=−2a3. Therefore b=−a. Substituting this into the first equation yields 2a3−2a=0. So f(1) is one of the numbers −1, 0, 1. These values can be obtained by the functions f(x)=−x∣x∣, f(x)=0 and f(x)=x∣x∣ respectively, which satisfy the equations.
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Source: MathNet,
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