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Algebra Difficulty 6.0 National olympiad Prove it Brazil

Given that f(x)=ax+bcx+df(x) = \frac{ax+b}{cx+d}, f(0)0f(0) \neq 0, f(f(0))0f(f(0)) \neq 0. Let F(x)=f((f(x)))n timesF(x) = \underbrace{f(\dots(f(x)\dots))}_{n \text{ times}}. If F(0)=0F(0) = 0, show that F(x)=xF(x) = x for all xx where the expression is defined.

Solution

Put fk(x)=f((f(x)))k timesf^k(x) = \underbrace{f(\dots(f(x))\dots)}_{k \text{ times}}. Then we have fk(x)=akx+bkckx+dkf^k(x) = \frac{a_k x + b_k}{c_k x + d_k}. From
fk+1(x)=f(fk(x))f^{k+1}(x) = f(f^k(x)) we get:
ak+1=aak+bck bk+1=abk+bdk ck+1=cak+dck dk+1=cbk+ddk \begin{align*} a_{k+1} &= a a_k + b c_k \ b_{k+1} &= a b_k + b d_k \ c_{k+1} &= c a_k + d c_k \ d_{k+1} &= c b_k + d d_k \end{align*}
But we also have fk+1(x)=fk(f(x))f^{k+1}(x) = f^k(f(x)), so
ak+1=aak+cbk bk+1=bak+dbk ck+1=ack+cdk dk+1=bck+ddk \begin{align*} a_{k+1} &= a a_k + c b_k \ b_{k+1} &= b a_k + d b_k \ c_{k+1} &= a c_k + c d_k \ d_{k+1} &= b c_k + d d_k \end{align*}
Comparing, we get bck=cbkb c_k = c b_k and (ad)bk=b(akdk)(a-d) b_k = b(a_k - d_k).
If fn(0)=0f^n(0) = 0, then bn=0b_n = 0, so bcn=0b c_n = 0. We are given that f(0)0f(0) \neq 0, so b0b \neq 0. Hence cn=0c_n = 0. Also b(andn)=0b(a_n - d_n) = 0 and hence an=dna_n = d_n. Hence fn(x)=xf^n(x) = x.

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