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Algebra Difficulty 5.4 AIME, harder Find the answer

159 Let the continuous function f:RR\{0}f: \mathbf{R} \rightarrow \mathbf{R} \backslash\{0\}, and for any x,yRx, y \in \mathbf{R} satisfy
f2(x)f(2y)+f2(y)f(2x)=2f(x)f(y)f(x+y). \begin{array}{l} f^{2}(x) f(2 y)+f^{2}(y) f(2 x) \\ =2 f(x) f(y) f(x+y) . \end{array}

Find f(x)f(x).

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Let y=0y=0, we get
f2(x)f(0)+f2(0)f(2x)=2f2(x)f(0)f^{2}(x) f(0)+f^{2}(0) f(2 x)=2 f^{2}(x) f(0).
Thus, f(2x)=f2(x)f(0),f(2y)=f2(y)f(0)f(2 x)=\frac{f^{2}(x)}{f(0)}, f(2 y)=\frac{f^{2}(y)}{f(0)}.
Substituting equation (2) into equation (1) yields
f(x)f(y)(f(x)f(y)f(0)f(x+y))=0. f(x) f(y)(f(x) f(y)-f(0) f(x+y))=0.

From equation (3) and f(x)0,f(y)0f(x) \neq 0, f(y) \neq 0, we have
f(x)f(y)f(0)f(x+y)=0. f(x) f(y)-f(0) f(x+y)=0.

Let g(x)=f(x)f(0)g(x)=\frac{f(x)}{f(0)}, then from equation (4) we know
g(x+y)=g(x)g(y), g(x+y)=g(x) g(y),

and g(x)g(x) is a continuous function.
From equation (5) and mathematical induction, we know
g(nx)=(g(x))ng(n x)=(g(x))^{n}, for any nN+n \in \mathbf{N}_{+}.
Substituting x=1,x=mnx=1, x=\frac{m}{n} into equation (6) gives
g(n)=(g(1))ng(n)=(g(1))^{n},
g(m)=(g(mn))ng(m)=\left(g\left(\frac{m}{n}\right)\right)^{n}.
From equation (5), we know
g(x)=(g(x2))2>0g(x)=\left(g\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)\right)^{2}>0, for any xRx \in \mathbf{R}.
From equations (7), (8), and (9), we know
g(mn)=(g(1))mn,m,nN+g\left(\frac{m}{n}\right)=(g(1))^{\frac{m}{n}}, m, n \in \mathbf{N}_{+}.
Since g(0)=f(0)f(0)=1g(0)=\frac{f(0)}{f(0)}=1, from equation (5) we get
g(mn)=g(0)g(mn)=(g(1))mng\left(-\frac{m}{n}\right)=\frac{g(0)}{g\left(\frac{m}{n}\right)}=(g(1))^{-\frac{m}{n}}.
From g(0)=1g(0)=1 and equations (10) and (11), we know
g(x)=(g(1))xg(x)=(g(1))^{x}, for any xQx \in \mathbf{Q}.
From equation (2) and the continuity of g(x)g(x), we know
g(x)=(g(1))xg(x)=(g(1))^{x}, for any xRx \in \mathbf{R}.
(13)
From equation (13) and g(x)=f(x)f(0)g(x)=\frac{f(x)}{f(0)}, we know
f(x)=f(0)(f(1)f(0))xf(x)=f(0)\left(\frac{f(1)}{f(0)}\right)^{x}, for any xRx \in \mathbf{R}.
(14)
Let b=f(0)0,c=f(1)f(0)>0b=f(0) \neq 0, c=\frac{f(1)}{f(0)}>0, then equation (4) is f(x)=bcxf(x)=b c^{x}, for any xRx \in \mathbf{R}.
Upon verification, f(x)=bcx(b0,c>0)f(x)=b c^{x}(b \neq 0, c>0) satisfies equation (1).
Therefore, the solution is f(x)=bcx(b0,c>0,b,cf(x)=b c^{x}(b \neq 0, c>0, b, c are constants )).

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Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic and difficulty added by this site.