Find all functions f:R+→R+, that satisfy the inequalities (i) f(x+y)≥f(x)+y (ii) f(f(x))≤x for all positive x and y.
Solution
It follows from (i) that f is strictly increasing function. Also, (ii) implies x+y≥f(f(x+y)).(1)
Furthermore, (i) gives f(f(x+y))≥f(f(x)+y) and the substitution x→y and y→f(x) in (i) implies f(f(x)+y)≥f(x)+f(y). Since f is increasing we have limx→0+f(x)=infx>0f(x)=ℓ≥0. Note that (ii) implies limx→0+f(f(x))=0. Assume ℓ>0. Since f is increasing we have f(f(x))≥f(ℓ)>0, a contradiction to limx→0+f(f(x))=0. Therefore ℓ=0 and limx→0+f(x)=0. Letting y→0+ in (1) we obtain x≥f(x) for all positive x. It follows now from (i) that x+y≥f(x+y)≥f(x)+y,x−f(x)≥f(x+y)−f(x)−y≥0. Fix x+y and let x→0+ in the above inequalities. We have f(x+y)=x+y meaning that f(x)=x for all positive x. This function is obviously a solution to the problem.
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