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Algebra Difficulty 6.9 National olympiad Find the answer

Let R+\mathbb{R}^+ denote the set of positive real numbers. Find all functions f:R+R+f : \mathbb{R}^+\to\mathbb{R}^+ that satisfy (1+yf(x))(1yf(x+y))=1 \Big(1+yf(x)\Big)\Big(1-yf(x+y)\Big)=1 for all x,yR+x,y\in\mathbb{R}^+.

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

Solution

Let f:R+R+ f: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+ be a function such that for all x,yR+ x, y \in \mathbb{R}^+ , the following functional equation holds:

(1+yf(x))(1yf(x+y))=1. (1 + y f(x))(1 - y f(x+y)) = 1.

Our goal is to find all such functions f f .

### Step 1: Simplify the Functional Equation

Expanding the equation, we have:

1+yf(x)yf(x+y)y2f(x)f(x+y)=1. 1 + y f(x) - y f(x+y) - y^2 f(x) f(x+y) = 1.

Subtracting 1 from both sides gives:

yf(x)yf(x+y)y2f(x)f(x+y)=0. y f(x) - y f(x+y) - y^2 f(x) f(x+y) = 0.

We can factor out y y from the terms:

y(f(x)f(x+y))=y2f(x)f(x+y). y (f(x) - f(x+y)) = y^2 f(x) f(x+y).

Assuming y0 y \neq 0 , we divide both sides by y y :

f(x)f(x+y)=yf(x)f(x+y). f(x) - f(x+y) = y f(x) f(x+y).

### Step 2: Analyze the Equation

This can be rewritten as:

f(x)=f(x+y)+yf(x)f(x+y). f(x) = f(x+y) + y f(x) f(x+y).

### Step 3: Assume a Form for f(x) f(x)

Assume f(x)=1x+a f(x) = \frac{1}{x + a} for some constant a>0 a > 0 . We will verify if this function satisfies the given functional equation.

Substituting this form into the right-hand side of the equation yields:

f(x+y)=1x+y+a. f(x+y) = \frac{1}{x+y+a}.

Check:

(1+y1x+a)(1y1x+y+a)=1. (1 + y \cdot \frac{1}{x+a}) \left( 1 - y \cdot \frac{1}{x+y+a} \right) = 1.

Simplify 1+yx+a 1 + \frac{y}{x+a} :

1+yx+a=x+a+yx+a. 1 + \frac{y}{x+a} = \frac{x+a+y}{x+a}.

Simplify 1yx+y+a 1 - \frac{y}{x+y+a} :

1yx+y+a=x+y+ayx+y+a=x+ax+y+a. 1 - \frac{y}{x+y+a} = \frac{x+y+a-y}{x+y+a} = \frac{x+a}{x+y+a}.

Substituting both expressions back into the equation:

x+a+yx+ax+ax+y+a=1. \frac{x+a+y}{x+a} \cdot \frac{x+a}{x+y+a} = 1.

The expressions simplify to:

(x+a)(x+a+y)(x+a)(x+y+a)=1. \frac{(x+a)(x+a+y)}{(x+a)(x+y+a)} = 1.

Thus, the equality holds, verifying our assumption.

Therefore, the required function is:

f(x)=1x+a. f(x) = \frac{1}{x + a}.

The function satisfies the equation for any positive constant a a , so the solution is:

f(x)=1x+a \boxed{f(x) = \frac{1}{x + a}}
for any positive constant a>0 a > 0 , which completes the solution.

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