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Algebra Difficulty 8.4 Shortlist Find the answer

Find all functions f:(0,)(0,) f: (0, \infty) \mapsto (0, \infty) (so f f is a function from the positive real numbers) such that
(f(w))2\plus(f(x))2f(y2)\plusf(z2)\equalw2\plusx2y2\plusz2 \frac {\left( f(w) \right)^2 \plus{} \left( f(x) \right)^2}{f(y^2) \plus{} f(z^2) } \equal{} \frac {w^2 \plus{} x^2}{y^2 \plus{} z^2}
for all positive real numbers w,x,y,z, w,x,y,z, satisfying wx\equalyz. wx \equal{} yz.

Author: Hojoo Lee, South Korea

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

Solution

To find all functions f:(0,)(0,) f: (0, \infty) \to (0, \infty) satisfying the given functional equation:

(f(w))2+(f(x))2f(y2)+f(z2)=w2+x2y2+z2 \frac {\left( f(w) \right)^2 + \left( f(x) \right)^2}{f(y^2) + f(z^2) } = \frac {w^2 + x^2}{y^2 + z^2}

for all positive real numbers w,x,y,z w, x, y, z such that wx=yz wx = yz , we proceed as follows:

### Step 1: Analyze the Functional Equation

The equation provides a relationship between the values of the function at different points. Considering wx=yz wx = yz , the form wx=yz wx = yz suggests symmetry relationships, which often hints at the possibility of the function being of a simple form, such as a power function.

### Step 2: Assume Specific Forms for f f

Assume f(x)=xk f(x) = x^k for some real number k k . Substitute into the functional equation:

(wk)2+(xk)2(y2)k+(z2)k=w2+x2y2+z2 \frac {(w^k)^2 + (x^k)^2}{(y^2)^k + (z^2)^k} = \frac {w^2 + x^2}{y^2 + z^2}

Simplify the expressions:

w2k+x2ky2k+z2k=w2+x2y2+z2 \frac {w^{2k} + x^{2k}}{y^{2k} + z^{2k}} = \frac {w^2 + x^2}{y^2 + z^2}

This equation should hold for all w,x,y,z w, x, y, z such that wx=yz wx = yz .

### Step 3: Analyze Specific Cases

1. **Case 1: f(x)=x f(x) = x **

- Substituting f(x)=x f(x) = x gives:
w2+x2y2+z2=w2+x2y2+z2 \frac {w^2 + x^2}{y^2 + z^2} = \frac {w^2 + x^2}{y^2 + z^2}
which holds true.

2. **Case 2: f(x)=1x f(x) = \frac{1}{x} **

- Substituting f(x)=1x f(x) = \frac{1}{x} gives:
(1w)2+(1x)2(1y2)+(1z2)=w2+x2y2+z2 \frac {\left(\frac{1}{w}\right)^2 + \left(\frac{1}{x}\right)^2}{\left(\frac{1}{y^2}\right) + \left(\frac{1}{z^2}\right)} = \frac {w^2 + x^2}{y^2 + z^2}
Simplifying the left side:
1w2+1x2y2+z2y2z2=w2+x2y2+z2 \frac{\frac{1}{w^2} + \frac{1}{x^2}}{\frac{y^2 + z^2}{y^2z^2}} = \frac{w^2 + x^2}{y^2 + z^2}
Cross-multiplying confirms equality, as the terms match.

Thus, both functions satisfy the given equation. Therefore, the solutions to the functional equation are:

f(x)=xorf(x)=1x \boxed{f(x) = x} \quad \text{or} \quad \boxed{f(x) = \frac{1}{x}}

These are the only functions from the positive reals to the positive reals satisfying the given condition.

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