Problem:
Define a function on the real numbers by
Determine all values satisfying .
Solution
Solution:
The answer is the 32 values .
If , then so the sequence is strictly decreasing and cannot return to .
If , similarly so the sequence is strictly increasing and cannot return to .
If , then and we have as a solution.
Finally, we assume that , so as well. For simplicity let and so the equation we are trying to solve is . Note that is an integer (either or ) for each , so
must be an integer as well. If we assume we deduce that is an integer. Conversely, if is an integer, then is an integer and this integer must be because . Thus the solutions in this range are exactly the multiples of : .
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