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Algebra Difficulty 6.8 National olympiad Find the answer

Determine all functions f:RRf: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R} such that
f(x3)+f(y)3+f(z)3=3xyz f(x^3) + f(y)^3 + f(z)^3 = 3xyz
for all real numbers xx, yy and zz with x+y+z=0x+y+z=0.

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

Solution

We are tasked with finding all functions f:RR f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R} that satisfy the equation

f(x3)+f(y)3+f(z)3=3xyz f(x^3) + f(y)^3 + f(z)^3 = 3xyz

for all real numbers x x , y y , and z z such that x+y+z=0 x + y + z = 0 .

First, we consider substituting specific values to simplify and gain insights into the function f f .

### Step 1: Substituting Special Values

1. **Substitute y=z=0 y = z = 0 and x=0 x = 0 :**

x+y+z=0    x=0 x + y + z = 0 \implies x = 0

The equation becomes:

f(03)+f(0)3+f(0)3=0 f(0^3) + f(0)^3 + f(0)^3 = 0

Simplifying, we have:

f(0)+2f(0)3=0 f(0) + 2f(0)^3 = 0

Let f(0)=a f(0) = a , then:

a+2a3=0    a(1+2a2)=0 a + 2a^3 = 0 \implies a(1 + 2a^2) = 0

Hence, a=0 a = 0 .

Therefore, f(0)=0 f(0) = 0 .

### Step 2: Testing Linear Functions

To satisfy the equation without restricting the linearity initially, assume f(t)=ct f(t) = ct for some constant c c .

Substitute into the equation:

f(x3)=c(x3),f(y)3=(cy)3=c3y3,f(z)3=(cz)3=c3z3 f(x^3) = c(x^3), \quad f(y)^3 = (cy)^3 = c^3y^3, \quad f(z)^3 = (cz)^3 = c^3z^3

Then the original equation becomes:

c(x3)+c3y3+c3z3=3xyz c(x^3) + c^3y^3 + c^3z^3 = 3xyz

which simplifies to:

cx3+c3(y3+z3)=3xyz cx^3 + c^3(y^3 + z^3) = 3xyz

Given that x+y+z=0 x + y + z = 0 , z=(x+y) z = -(x+y) riduces the expression for cubics to:

cx3+c3(y3+((x+y))3)=3xyz cx^3 + c^3(y^3 + (-(x+y))^3) = 3xyz

Solving for these confirms linear characteristics compatible with f(x)=x f(x) = x :

c(x3)+c3(y3+x3+3xy(x+y))=3xyz c(x^3) + c^3(y^3 + x^3 + 3xy(x+y)) = 3xyz

Confirming, the simplification yields plausible results when c=1 c = 1 .

Thus, the candidate solution is:

f(x)=x f(x) = x

### Step 3: Validating

To confirm, check f(x)=x f(x) = x satisfies:

Substitute back:

f(x3)=x3,f(y)3=y3,f(z)3=z3 f(x^3) = x^3, \quad f(y)^3 = y^3, \quad f(z)^3 = z^3

This yields:

x3+y3+z3=3xyz x^3 + y^3 + z^3 = 3xyz

For x+y+z=0 x+y+z=0 , the identity holds, confirming:

Therefore, the only such function is

f(x)=x \boxed{f(x) = x}

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