Denote by fn(x) the result of applying the function fn times to x (e.g. f1(x)=f(x), f2(x)=f(f(x)), f3(x)=f(f(f(x))) etc). Find all functions from real numbers to real numbers which satisfy fd(x)=2015−x for all divisors d of 2015, which are greater than 1, and for all real x.
Solution
Since 5 is a divisor of 2015, we have for any real z: f25(z)=f5(f5(f5(f5(z))))=2015−f5(f5(f5(f5(z))))=2015−(2015−f5(f5(f5(z))))=f5(f5(f5(z)))=⋯=f5(z)=2015−z. Since 13 is also a divisor of 2015, we have for any real z: f26(z)=f13(f13(z))=2015−f13(z)=2015−(2015−z)=z. Consequently z=f26(z)=f(f25(z))=f(2015−z). Any real number x can be written as 2015−z for z=2015−x. Hence z=f(2015−z) implies f(x)=2015−x for any real x.
Finally check that the function f(x)=2015−x satisfies the conditions of the problem. Let d be a divisor of 2015 greater than 1. Then d is odd, i.e. d=2c+1 for a positive integer c. Since f2(x)=2015−(2015−x)=x, we have f2c(x)=f2(f2(…f2(x)…))=x, which implies fd(x)=f(f2c(x))=f(x)=2015−x.
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