Scribd
Upload
29 views4 pages

Lecture To The Algerian OFM Team Functional Equations

The document is a lecture on functional equations by A. Anas Chentouf, detailing definitions of functions, injective, surjective, and bijective properties. It includes examples, theorems such as Cauchy's Functional Equation, and various problems and homework assignments related to finding specific functions that satisfy given functional equations. Important tips for solving functional equations are also provided.

Uploaded by

a.ellamrhari
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
29 views4 pages

Lecture To The Algerian OFM Team Functional Equations

The document is a lecture on functional equations by A. Anas Chentouf, detailing definitions of functions, injective, surjective, and bijective properties. It includes examples, theorems such as Cauchy's Functional Equation, and various problems and homework assignments related to finding specific functions that satisfy given functional equations. Important tips for solving functional equations are also provided.

Uploaded by

a.ellamrhari
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Lecture to the Algerian OFM Team: Functional Equations

A.Anas Chentouf

06 March 2021

Definition 1
A functional equation is an equation in which the unknown is a function of precised domain and codomain.

Definition 2
Let f : A 7→ B be a function. Then we say that A is the domain and B is the co-domain.

Definition 3
A function f : A 7→ B is said to be injective if f (x) = f (y ) ⇔ x = y .

Definition 4
A function f : A 7→ B is said to be surjective if for any b ∈ B there exists a ∈ A such that f (a) = b.

Definition 5
A function is said to be bijective if it both injective and surjective.

Example 6
Note that f : R 7→ R where f (x) = x 3 is an injective, surjective function. However, f : Q 7→ Q with the same
expression is injective but not surjective.

1
Example 7
Find all functions f : Q 7→ R such that
f (x + y ) = f (x) + f (y )

for all x, y ∈ Q.

Proof.

Theorem 8 (Cauchy’s Functional Equation)


Consider a function f : R 7→ R such that

f (x + y ) = f (x) + f (y )

for all x, y ∈ R.
If any of the following condition hold:
1. f is continuous at a point.

2. f is monotonic on some interval.

3. f is bounded on some interval.


then f (x) = cx for some x ∈ R. However, there exists a pathological function f that satisfies these conditions
but is not of the form f (x) = cx.

2
Important tips for functional equations:
1. Trying guessing a solution (but don’t take this too seriously, e.g. Cauchy)

2. Be careful with domain/co-domain.

3. Trying plugging in constants (0 is useful, if it is in your domain!).

4. Use assertion notation!

5. Check for injectivity/surjectivity.

6. Check your solution at the end.

Problem 9
Find all functions f : R 7→ R such that

f (xf (y ) + y ) + f (xy + x) = f (x + y ) + 2xy for all x, y ∈ R.

3
Homework
Homework 1. Prove or disprove: if f : A 7→ B and g : B 7→ C are both surjective then (g ◦ f )(x) = g(f (x)) is
surjective.

Homework 2. Prove the following statement. Consider a function g : A 7→ A. If there exists a function f : A 7→ A
such that g(f (x)) = x for all x ∈ A, then g is surjective. Can you generalize this?

Homework 3. Find all functions f : Q 7→ Q such that

f (x + f (x) + 2y ) = 2x + 2f (f (y ))

for all x, y ∈ Q.

Homework 4. Find all functions f : R 7→ R such that

f (f (x) + 9y ) = f (y ) + 9x + 24y for all x, y ∈ R.

Homework 5. Find all functions f : R 7→ R such that

xf (x) − y f (y ) = (x − y )f (x + y )

for all x, y ∈ R.

Homework 6. Let Z be the set of integers. Determine all functions f : Z → Z such that, for all integers a and b,

f (2a) + 2f (b) = f (f (a + b)).

Homework 7. Find all function f : R → R such that for all x, y ∈ R the following equality holds

f (bxc y ) = f (x) bf (y )c

where bac is greatest integer not greater than a.

Homework 8. Find all functions f from the reals to the reals such that

f (f (x) + y ) = 2x + f (f (y ) − x)

for all real x, y .

Homework 9. Find all the functions f : R → R such that

f (x 2 ) + 4y 2 f (y ) = (f (x − y ) + y 2 )(f (x + y ) + f (y ))

for every real x, y .

You might also like