Let f:Z→Z be a function such that for any integers x,y, we have f(x2−3y2)+f(x2+y2)=2(x+y)f(x−y). Suppose that f(n)>0 for all n>0 and that f(2015)⋅f(2016) is a perfect square. Find the minimum possible value of f(1)+f(2).
A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.
Solution
Plugging in −y in place of y in the equation and comparing the result with the original equation gives (x−y)f(x+y)=(x+y)f(x−y). This shows that whenever a,b∈Z−{0} with a≡b(mod2), we have af(a)=bf(b) which implies that there are constants α=f(1)∈Z>0,β=f(2)∈Z>0 for which f satisfies the equation (∗): f(n)={n⋅α2n⋅β when 2∤n when 2∣n. Therefore, f(2015)f(2016)=2015α⋅1008β=24⋅32⋅5⋅7⋅13⋅31αβ, so αβ=5⋅7⋅13⋅31⋅t2 for some t∈Z>0. We claim that (α,β,t)=(5⋅31,7⋅13,1) is a triple which gives the minimum α+β. In particular, we claim α+β≥246. Consider the case t≥2 first. We have, by AM-GM, α+β≥2⋅αβ≥4⋅14105>246. Suppose t=1. We have α⋅β=5⋅7⋅13⋅31. Because (α+β)2−(α−β)2=4αβ is fixed, we want to have α as close as β as possible. This happens when one of α,β is 5⋅31 and the other is 7⋅13. In this case, α+β=91+155=246. Finally, we note that the equality f(1)+f(2)=246 can be attained. Consider f:Z→Z such that f(n)=91n for every odd n∈Z and f(n)=2155n for every even n∈Z. It can be verified that f satisfies the condition in the problem and f(1)+f(2)=246 as claimed.
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