Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 7 / 129 of 300 #1529 of 1964

Problem 1529

National Olympiad second round; IMO P1/P4
Combinatorics Difficulty 7.1 Prove it

Let f:R→Rf:\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R} be a continuous function satisfying
f(x+2y)=2f(x)f(y)f(x+2y)=2f(x)f(y)
for every x,y∈Rx,y \in \mathbb{R}. Prove that ff is constant.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, then read the official solution and mark yourself. Be honest about it: the record is only any use to you if it is.

Next problem →

Official solution

1. Initial Setup and Substitution:
Given the functional equation:
f(x+2y)=2f(x)f(y) f(x+2y) = 2f(x)f(y)
for all x,y∈Rx, y \in \mathbb{R}, we start by substituting x=0x = 0 and y=0y = 0:
f(0+2⋅0)=2f(0)f(0)  ⟹  f(0)=2f(0)2 f(0+2 \cdot 0) = 2f(0)f(0) \implies f(0) = 2f(0)^2
Let f(0)=cf(0) = c. Then:
c=2c2  ⟹  2c2−c=0  ⟹  c(2c−1)=0 c = 2c^2 \implies 2c^2 - c = 0 \implies c(2c - 1) = 0
Therefore, c=0c = 0 or c=12c = \frac{1}{2}.

2. **Case 1: f(0)=0f(0) = 0:**
If f(0)=0f(0) = 0, then substituting x=0x = 0 in the original equation:
f(2y)=2f(0)f(y)=2⋅0⋅f(y)=0 f(2y) = 2f(0)f(y) = 2 \cdot 0 \cdot f(y) = 0
Thus, f(2y)=0f(2y) = 0 for all y∈Ry \in \mathbb{R}. By induction, we can show that f(x)=0f(x) = 0 for all x∈Rx \in \mathbb{R}. Hence, ff is the zero function, which is constant.

3. **Case 2: f(0)=12f(0) = \frac{1}{2}:**
If f(0)=12f(0) = \frac{1}{2}, then substituting x=0x = 0 in the original equation:
f(2y)=2f(0)f(y)=2⋅12⋅f(y)=f(y) f(2y) = 2f(0)f(y) = 2 \cdot \frac{1}{2} \cdot f(y) = f(y)
Thus, f(2y)=f(y)f(2y) = f(y) for all y∈Ry \in \mathbb{R}. By induction, we can show that f(2ny)=f(y)f(2^n y) = f(y) for all n∈Zn \in \mathbb{Z}.

4. Continuity and Limit Argument:
Since ff is continuous, we can take the limit as n→∞n \to \infty:
f(y)=f(y2n)for all n∈Z f(y) = f\left(\frac{y}{2^n}\right) \quad \text{for all } n \in \mathbb{Z}
Taking the limit as n→∞n \to \infty:
f(y)=f(lim⁡n→∞y2n)=f(0)=12 f(y) = f\left(\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{y}{2^n}\right) = f(0) = \frac{1}{2}
Therefore, f(y)=12f(y) = \frac{1}{2} for all y∈Ry \in \mathbb{R}. Hence, ff is the constant function 12\frac{1}{2}.

5. Conclusion:
In both cases, ff is shown to be constant. Therefore, ff is a constant function.

The final answer is f(x)=0 \boxed{ f(x) = 0 } or f(x)=12f(x) = \frac{1}{2}.

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty, ordering) added by this project.