Does there exist a function that satisfies for all real numbers the equation
Solution
Taking in the given equation, we get
from which, by expressing , we find
Taking in the given equation, we get ; using the equality (7) here, we get after simplification
Substituting into equation (8) and applying equation (7) on the left hand side, we get
which after simplification gives . Consequently, equation (8) takes the form . But in this case, , whereas from equation (7) . Since in general , there are no functions that satisfy the given functional equation.
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