Let be the set of all positive real numbers. Find all strictly monotone (increasing or decreasing) functions such that there exists a two-variable polynomial with real coefficients satisfying
for all .\\
Solution
To solve the problem of finding strictly monotone functions that satisfy the given equation for some two-variable polynomial , we'll proceed as follows:
Step 1: Analyze the Problem
We are given that is a strictly monotone function and is a polynomial such that:
for all .
**Step 2: Possibilities for **
Since is strictly monotone, it can either be strictly increasing or strictly decreasing. Several forms of strictly monotone functions might be considered, and we need to check for consistency with the given functional equation.
1. Logarithmic Form: Suppose , where . Then:
If we let , this form is compatible with the condition.
2. Power Form: Suppose , where and . Then:
If we let , this form is also compatible with the condition.
Step 3: Verify the Monotonicity
The forms and are strictly monotone if the constants and are chosen appropriately:
- For : The function is strictly increasing if and strictly decreasing if .
- For : The function is strictly increasing if and , or strictly decreasing if and .
Conclusion
The strictly monotone functions that satisfy the functional equation are:
where and are constants with suitable restrictions to maintain monotonicity. Thus, the solution is: