Find all functions f:R→R such that, for every real number a, the function g(x)=f(x+a) is either an even or odd function.
Solution
Denote f(0)=c. We show that f(x)=c for every real number x. Fix a real number a arbitrarily; by assumption, the function g(x)=f(x+2a) is either an even or odd function. If this g is even then f(a)=f(2a+2a)=g(2a)=g(−2a)=f(−2a+2a)=f(0)=c. Analogously in the case of odd g we obtain f(a)=f(2a+2a)=g(2a)=−g(−2a)=−f(−2a+2a)=−f(0)=−c. Thus if g defined as in the problem is even for all choices of a then f(x)=c for every real number x. If g(x)=f(x+a) is an odd function for some a then f(a)=f(0+a)=g(0)=0. But by the above, f(a)=c or f(a)=−c; hence c=0. This implies that, for every real number x, f(x)=0=c. On the other hand, if f is a constant function then g(x)=f(x+a) is the same constant function for every a. Constant functions are even. Hence constant functions satisfy the conditions of the problem.
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