Find all the functions f:Q→Q, so that f(1−xy)=(1−f(x))(1−f(y)), for every rational numbers x and y.
Solution
Let us find all functions f:Q→Q such that for all x,y∈Q, f(1−xy)=(1−f(x))(1−f(y)).
Let us denote the given equation as (∗).
Step 1. Plug x=0 into (∗): f(1−0⋅y)=(1−f(0))(1−f(y))⟹f(1)=(1−f(0))(1−f(y)). But the left side is independent of y, so the right side must also be independent of y. Therefore, 1−f(0)=0 or 1−f(y) is constant.
Case 1: 1−f(0)=0⟹f(0)=1
Then f(1)=0 (since f(1)=(1−f(0))(1−f(y))=0 for all y).
Case 2: 1−f(y) is constant for all y, so f(y) is constant. Let f(y)=c for all y. Plug into (∗): c=(1−c)2. So c=1−2c+c2⟹c2−3c+1=0. The solutions are c=23±5, but these are not rational, so there is no constant rational solution.
So only Case 1 is possible: f(0)=1, f(1)=0.
Step 2. Plug y=1 into (∗): f(1−x⋅1)=(1−f(x))(1−f(1))⟹f(1−x)=(1−f(x))(1−0)=1−f(x). So f(1−x)=1−f(x) for all x∈Q.
Step 3. Plug y=0 into (∗): f(1−x⋅0)=(1−f(x))(1−f(0))⟹f(1)=(1−f(x))(1−1)=0. Which is consistent with f(1)=0.
Step 4. Plug x=a, y=b into (∗) and use f(1−x)=1−f(x): Let us try to find the general form. Let us try f(x)=x. Then f(1−xy)=1−xy, (1−f(x))(1−f(y))=(1−x)(1−y)=1−x−y+xy. But 1−xy=1−x−y+xy in general, so f(x)=x is not a solution.
Try f(x)=1−x. Then f(1−xy)=1−(1−xy)=xy, (1−f(x))(1−f(y))=xy. So f(1−xy)=(1−f(x))(1−f(y)).
Therefore, f(x)=1−x is a solution.
Let us check if there are other solutions. Suppose f(x)=ax+b for some a,b∈Q. From above, f(1−x)=1−f(x): f(1−x)=a(1−x)+b=a−ax+b=1−(ax+b)=1−f(x). So a−ax+b=1−ax−b⟹a+b=1−b⟹a+2b=1.
Also, f(0)=b=1 (from above), so b=1, so a+2⋅1=1⟹a=−1. So f(x)=−x+1.
Therefore, the only solution is f(x)=1−x.
Check: f(1−xy)=1−(1−xy)=xy, (1−f(x))(1−f(y))=xy. So it works.
Conclusion:
The only function f:Q→Q satisfying f(1−xy)=(1−f(x))(1−f(y)) for all x,y∈Q is f(x)=1−x.
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.
Source: MathNet,
licensed CC-BY-4.0.
Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.