Find all functions f:(0,+∞)→(0,+∞) (f is a function mapping positive real numbers to positive real numbers) such that f(y2)+f(z2)(f(w))2+(f(x))2=y2+z2w2+x2 for all positive real numbers w,x,y,z satisfying wx=yz.
Solution
Take w=x=y=z=1, then we get (f(1))2=f(1), so f(1)=1. For any real number t>0, let w=t, x=1, y=z=t, we get 2f(t)(f(t))2+1=2tt2+1, which implies (tf(t)−1)(f(t)−t)=0. So, for any t>0, f(t)=torf(t)=t1.1◯ Suppose there exist b,c∈(0,+∞) such that f(b)=b, f(c)=c1. By ①, we get b,c different from 1 and f(b)=b1, f(c)=c. Take w=b,x=c,y=z=bc, then 2f(bc)b21+c2=2bcb2+c2, i.e. f(bc)=b(b2+c2)c+b2c3. By ①, f(bc)=bc or f(bc)=bc1. If f(bc)=bc, then bc=b(b2+c2)c+b2c3, which yields b4c=c,b=1. Contradiction!
If f(bc)=bc1, then bc1=b(b2+c2)c+b2c3, that yields b2c4=b2, c=1. Contradiction! Therefore, only two functions: f(x)=x,x∈(0,+∞) or f(x)=x1,x∈(0,+∞). It is easy to verify that these two functions satisfy the given conditions.
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