Let f:R→R be a function such that for all x,y∈R, the following functional equation holds:
f(x2+y2+2f(xy))=(f(x+y))2.
We need to find all possible functions f that satisfy this equation.
### Step 1: Consider simple test cases
First, set x=y=0:
f(0+0+2f(0))=(f(0))2.
Let f(0)=c. Then, we have:
f(2c)=c2.
### Step 2: Analyze specific function candidates
#### Case 1: Assume f(x)=0
Substitute f(x)=0 for all x:
f(x2+y2+2⋅0)=0=(0)2.
This satisfies the functional equation.
#### Case 2: Assume f(x)=x
Substitute f(x)=x:
f(x2+y2+2xy)=f((x+y)2)=(x+y)2.
This implies
x2+y2+2xy=(x+y)2,
which is true generally. Therefore, f(x)=x is another solution.
### Step 3: Consider functions of binary nature
For f of the form:
f(x)={1,−1,x∈/X,x∈X,
where X⊂(−∞,−32).
- When x,y∈/X:
f(x2+y2+2f(xy))=f(x2+y2+2⋅1)=1=12.
- When x,y∈X:
f(x2+y2+2f(xy))=f(x2+y2+2⋅(−1))=1=(−1)2,
given the structure of X.
The functions f(x)=x, f(x)=0, and the binary functions described match all conditions provided by the problem statement.
Thus, the set of all functions f satisfying the given condition is:
f(x)=x,f(x)=0,and functions of the formf(x)={1,−1,x∈/X,x∈X, where X⊂(−∞,−32).
Therefore, the set of all solutions is:
{f(x)=x,f(x)=0,f(x)={1,−1,x∈/X,x∈X, where X⊂(−∞,−32)}