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Algebra Difficulty 7.5 National olympiad, round 2 Find the answer

Let Z\mathbb{Z} be the set of all integers. Find all pairs of integers (a,b)(a,b) for which there exist functions f ⁣:ZZf \colon \mathbb{Z}\rightarrow \mathbb{Z} and g ⁣:ZZg \colon \mathbb{Z} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z} satisfying
f(g(x))=x+aandg(f(x))=x+b f(g(x))=x+a \quad\text{and}\quad g(f(x))=x+b
for all integers xx.

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

Solution

We are tasked with finding all pairs of integers (a,b)(a, b) such that there exist functions f:ZZ f: \mathbb{Z} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z} and g:ZZ g: \mathbb{Z} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z} satisfying the conditions:

f(g(x))=x+aandg(f(x))=x+b f(g(x)) = x + a \quad \text{and} \quad g(f(x)) = x + b

for all integers x x .

To solve this problem, we will analyze the functional equations given and deduce the necessary conditions for (a,b)(a, b).

1. Analyzing the Equations:

From the first equation, f(g(x))=x+a f(g(x)) = x + a , applying g g on both sides, we get:
g(f(g(x)))=g(x+a). g(f(g(x))) = g(x + a).

Using the second equation g(f(x))=x+b g(f(x)) = x + b , substitute y=g(x) y = g(x) , we have:
f(y)=g1(yb). f(y) = g^{-1}(y - b).

Applying f f on both sides of the equation g(f(x))=x+b g(f(x)) = x + b , we have:
f(g(f(x)))=f(x+b). f(g(f(x))) = f(x + b).

2. Substitution and Inferences:

Use the result from applying g g on the first equation:
g(f(g(x)))=x+a+b. g(f(g(x))) = x + a + b.

Since we also have g(f(g(x)))=g(x+a) g(f(g(x))) = g(x + a) , equating both gives:
g(x+a)=x+a+b. g(x + a) = x + a + b.

g(x)=x+ba. \Rightarrow g(x) = x + b - a.

From this, we realize that g g is a linear function. Substitute x=g(y) x = g(y) into f(g(x))=x+a f(g(x)) = x + a :
f(x+ba)=x+a. f(x + b - a) = x + a.

3. Consistency Check:

From these conditions, we find that both g g and f f imply a consistent cyclic nature where:
f(y+ba)=y+ay+ba+a=y+b. f(y + b - a) = y + a \quad \Rightarrow \quad y + b - a + a = y + b.

Therefore, the cycle completes without contradiction if the magnitude of the shift imposed by a a equals that by b b , suggesting:
a=b. |a| = |b|.

Conclusion:

Through the analysis of the problem's functional equations and the cycle of applications between f f and g g , the condition:

a=b \left| a \right| = \left| b \right|

is necessary and sufficient for the functions f f and g g to exist satisfying the given conditions for the pair (a,b)(a, b). Therefore, the solution is a=b\boxed{\left| a \right| = \left| b \right|}.

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