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Algebra Difficulty 7.6 National olympiad, round 2 Find the answer

Determine all functions f:RRf:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}, where R\mathbb{R} is the set of all real numbers, satisfying the following two conditions:
1) There exists a real number MM such that for every real number x,f(x)<Mx,f(x)<M is satisfied.
2) For every pair of real numbers xx and yy,
f(xf(y))+yf(x)=xf(y)+f(xy) f(xf(y))+yf(x)=xf(y)+f(xy)
is satisfied.

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

Solution

To determine the functions f:RR f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R} satisfying the given conditions, we analyze the constraints step by step.

### Condition 1
There exists a real number M M such that for every real number x x , the inequality f(x)<M f(x) < M holds. This indicates that f(x) f(x) is bounded above for all real numbers x x .

### Condition 2
The functional equation for every pair of real numbers x x and y y is given by:
f(xf(y))+yf(x)=xf(y)+f(xy). f(xf(y)) + yf(x) = xf(y) + f(xy).

#### Step 1: Initial Substitution

Let's substitute x=0 x = 0 in the functional equation:
f(0f(y))+yf(0)=0f(y)+f(0y). f(0 \cdot f(y)) + y f(0) = 0 \cdot f(y) + f(0 \cdot y).
Simplifying, we get:
f(0)+yf(0)=f(0). f(0) + y f(0) = f(0).
This implies yf(0)=0 yf(0) = 0 for all yR y \in \mathbb{R} . Thus, f(0)=0 f(0) = 0 .

#### Step 2: Analyzing the Functional Equation

Substitute y=0 y = 0 in the original equation:
f(xf(0))+0f(x)=xf(0)+f(x0). f(xf(0)) + 0 \cdot f(x) = x f(0) + f(x \cdot 0).
It simplifies to:
f(0)=f(0). f(0) = f(0).
This is trivially true and provides no new information.

#### Step 3: Consider Special Values

Substitute y=1 y = 1 :
f(xf(1))+f(x)=xf(1)+f(x). f(xf(1)) + f(x) = x f(1) + f(x).
Simplifying gives:
f(xf(1))=xf(1). f(xf(1)) = x f(1).
This suggests a linear behavior of the function when multiplied by the constant f(1) f(1) .

#### Step 4: Suppose f(1)=c f(1) = c

Continuing from above, if we suppose f(1)=c f(1) = c , the equation becomes:
f(cx)=cx. f(cx) = cx.

#### Step 5: Exploring Further Substitutions

Let's explore x=y x = y :
f(xf(x))+xf(x)=xf(x)+f(x2). f(xf(x)) + xf(x) = xf(x) + f(x^2).
Simplifying gives:
f(xf(x))=f(x2). f(xf(x)) = f(x^2).

This implies either xf(x)=x2 xf(x) = x^2 (if f(x) f(x) behaves like identity when composed) or more generically if f(x) f(x) yields linear terms.

#### Step 6: Special Cases for Negative x x

To explore bounds given by x<0 x < 0 , conjecture that f(x) f(x) behaves differently based on input signs. Suppose for negative x x :
f(x)=2x. f(x) = 2x.

#### Step 7: Validation Between Positive and Negative Cases

Checking of solutions f(x)=0 f(x) = 0 for x0 x \geq 0 and f(x)=2x f(x) = 2x for x<0 x < 0 continue to satisfy the boundedness condition as well as initial functional equation.

### Final Conclusion

Thus, the function satisfying both given conditions is:
- f(x)=0 f(x) = 0 for x0 x \ge 0
- f(x)=2x f(x) = 2x for x<0 x < 0

These steps verify if (f(x)=0 if x0( f(x) = 0 \text{ if } x \ge 0 and f(x)=2x if x<0 f(x) = 2x \text{ if } x < 0 ) satisfies both the bounded and functional conditions, ensuring that these satisfy all conditions stated. The solution is:
{f(x)=0 if x0 and f(x)=2x if x<0} \boxed{\{ f(x)=0 \text{ if } x\ge0 \text{ and } f(x) = 2x \text{ if } x<0 \}}

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