Dustan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 11:59 pm
However the soln is
$f(x)=x$ and$ f(x)=0$ for all x,y.
Here, $P(x,y,)$ denotes the assertion of the following equation.
$P(0,0)$ we get,
$f(0)=0$ or $f(f(f(0)))=0$
The second motivates us to assume $f(t)=0$
$P(t,t)$ gives $f(0) \cdot t=0$
So,$f(0)=0$ from both case.
Case 1: $f(0)=0$
$P(x,0)$:
$f(f(x))\cdot (f(x))=xf(x)$
Or, $f(x)[f(f(x))-x]=0$
Hence, $f(x)=0$ or, $f(f(x))=x$
From the second one, we can switch the variable and will find
$yf(x)=f(y)x$
$y=1$ gives
$f(x)=cx$
Plugging this back, $f(x)=x$ is the solution for all x,y.
Case 2: Suppose there exist a c≠0 for which $f(c)=0$
From $P(x,0)$ we already get
$f(f(x))f(x)=xf(x)$
$P(x,c)$ gives
$f(f(x))(f(x)+c)=xf(x)+2cf(x)$
From this two,
$cf(f(x))=2cf(x)$
Or,$f(f(x))=2f(x)$
Multiplying both sides we get,
$2f(x)^2=xf(x)$ [ assume, $f(x)≠0$ in this case. We are dealing with non constant solution ]
$f(x)=\frac{x}{2}$
Let, $k≠0$ for some k $f(k)=\frac{k}{2}$
then $f(\frac{k}{2})=k$. But this impossible.
So,$f(x)=0$ for all real valued x,y.
And we are done.
I guess there is no mistakes. If you find any then tell me.
Thanks to aops for the idea of assuming $k≠0$