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Algebra Difficulty 8.3 Shortlist Find the answer

Find all functions ff from the set of real numbers into the set of real numbers which satisfy for all xx, yy the identity f(xf(x+y))=f(yf(x))+x2 f\left(xf(x+y)\right) = f\left(yf(x)\right) +x^2

[i]

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

Solution

To solve the given functional equation, we need to find all functions f:RR f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R} that satisfy:

f(xf(x+y))=f(yf(x))+x2 f\left(xf(x+y)\right) = f\left(yf(x)\right) + x^2

for all x,yR x, y \in \mathbb{R} .

### Step 1: Investigate Specific Cases

Firstly, set y=0 y = 0 in the functional equation:

f(xf(x))=f(0)+x2 f\left(x f(x)\right) = f(0) + x^2

Let c=f(0) c = f(0) . Thus, we have:

f(xf(x))=c+x2(1) f\left(x f(x)\right) = c + x^2 \tag{1}

### Step 2: Consider General Properties

Next, consider setting x=0 x = 0 in the functional equation:

f(0f(y))=f(yf(0))+02=f(cy) f\left(0 \cdot f(y)\right) = f\left(y f(0)\right) + 0^2 = f\left(cy\right)

Thus:

f(0)=f(cy)    f is a constant function when f(0)=0.(2) f(0) = f(cy) \implies f \text{ is a constant function when } f(0) = 0. \tag{2}

### Step 3: Explore Non-zero Cases

Assume x0 x \neq 0 . Combine equations from specific inputs:

Case 1: Let f(x)=x f(x) = x . Substituting into the original equation gives:

f(x(x+y))=f(x2+xy)=f(yx)+x2=yx+x2 f\left(x(x+y)\right) = f(x^2 + xy) = f\left(yx\right) + x^2 = yx + x^2

This simplifies to x2+xy=yx+x2 x^2 + xy = yx + x^2 , which holds true for all x,y x, y .

Case 2: Let f(x)=x f(x) = -x . Similarly, substituting gives:

f(x(xy))=f(x2xy)=f(y(x))+x2=yx+x2 f\left(x(-x-y)\right) = f(-x^2 - xy) = f\left(-y(-x)\right) + x^2 = -yx + x^2

Again simplifying to x2xy=yxx2 -x^2 - xy = -yx - x^2 , holds for all x,y x, y .

From both cases, we can conclude the functions f(x)=x f(x) = x and f(x)=x f(x) = -x satisfy the equation.

### Final Conclusion

Since the cases we have investigated cover all possibilities of the functional equation and no other function types can be derived from given conditions, the functions satisfying the original equation are:

f(x)=xfor all xR f(x) = x \quad \text{for all } x \in \mathbb{R}

and

f(x)=xfor all xR f(x) = -x \quad \text{for all } x \in \mathbb{R}

Hence, the complete set of solutions is:

f(x)=x for all xR and f(x)=x for all xR \boxed{f(x) = x \text{ for all } x \in \mathbb{R} \text{ and } f(x) = -x \text{ for all } x \in \mathbb{R}}

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