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Contents
What are the 4 types of functions in math?
The types of functions can be broadly classified into four types. Based on Element: One to one Function, many to one function, onto function, one to one and onto function, into function.
What is an example of functional?
The definition of functional is something that is useful for its intended purpose. A saw that works to cut things is an example of a functional saw. Of or relating to a function.
What are the 12 types of functions?
- Quadratic. f(x)=x^2. D: -∞,∞ R: 0,∞
- Reciprocal. f(x)=1/x. D: -∞,0 U 0,∞ R: -∞,0 U 0,∞ Odd.
- Exponential. f(x)=e^x. D: -∞,∞ R: 0,∞
- Sine. f(x)=SINx. D: -∞,∞ R: -1,1. Odd.
- Greatest Integer. f(x)= [[x]] D: -∞,∞ R: {All Integers} Neither.
- Absolute Value. f(x)= I x I. D: -∞,∞ R: 0,∞ …
- Linear. f(x)=x. Odd.
- Cubic. f(x)=x^3. Odd.
What are the 8 types of functions?
The eight types are linear, power, quadratic, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and sinusoidal.
What is function explain the types of function with examples?
A Rational function is a sort of function which is derived from the ratio of two given polynomial functions and is expressed as, f ( x ) = P ( x ) Q ( x ) , such that P and Q are polynomial functions of x and Q(x) ≠ 0. For example, f ( x ) = ( x 2 + 4 x + 5 ) x 2 − 4 is a rational function.
What is the meaning of functional equation?
In mathematics, a functional equation is, in the broadest meaning, an equation in which one or several functions appear as unknowns. So, differential equations and integral equations are functional equations.
What is a functional in math?
A functional is a real-valued function on a vector space , usually of functions. For example, the energy functional on the unit disk assigns a number to any differentiable function , For the functional to be continuous, it is necessary for the vector space. of functions to have an appropriate topology.
What is not a function equation?
Vertical lines are not functions. The equations y = ± x and x 2 + y 2 = 9 are examples of non-functions because there is at least one -value with two or more -values.
What is function explain with example?
An example of a simple function is f(x) = x2. In this function, the function f(x) takes the value of “x” and then squares it. For instance, if x = 3, then f(3) = 9. A few more examples of functions are: f(x) = sin x, f(x) = x2 + 3, f(x) = 1/x, f(x) = 2x + 3, etc.
functional equations and how to solve them pdf
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Functional Equations and How to Solve Them (Problem Books in Mathematics) by Christopher G. Small – PDF Drive
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Solving problems in geometry Insights and strategies for mathematical olympiad
Advanced book on Mathematics Olympiad
Problem Solving strategies for Math Olympiads
An Introduction to the Theory of Functional Equations and Inequalities Cauchy’s Equation and Jensen’s Inequality
Adventures in Problem Solving Mathematical Marvels by Shailesh Shirali Universities Press RMO INMO IMO Mathematics Olympiads
A First Step to Mathematical Olympiad Problems
How to Solve It A New Aspect of Mathematical Method
Problem Books in Mathematics
103 Trigonometry Problems From the Training of the USA IMO Team
equations inequalities and problem solving
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functional equations and how to solve them pdf
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Solving Functions: Tables, Graphs, Equations (Simplifying Math) – YouTube
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Solving a Functional Equation – YouTube
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Problem Solving with Function Notation – YouTube
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Types of Functions – Types, Definition, Examples
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What are the Different Types of Functions
Representation of Functions
List of Types of Functions
Types of Functions – Based on Set Elements
Types of Function – Based on Equation
Types of Functions – Based on Range
Types oF Functions – Based on Domain
Solved Examples on Types of Functions
Practice Questions on Types of Functions
FAQs on Types of Functions
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[PDF] Functional Equations and How to Solve Them | Semantic Scholar
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(PDF) Functional Equations in Mathematical Olympiads (2017 – 2018): Problems and Solutions (Vol. I) | Amir Parvardi – Academia.edu
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Functional Equations and How to Solve Them
This book covers topics in the theory and practice of functional equations. Special emphasis is given to methods for solving functional equations that appear in mathematics contests, such as the Putnam competition and the International Mathematical Olympiad. This book will be of particular interest to university students studying for the Putnam competition, and to high school students working to improve their skills on mathematics competitions at the national and international level. Mathematics educators who train students for these competitions will find a wealth of material for training on functional equations problems.
The book also provides a number of brief biographical sketches of some of the mathematicians who pioneered the theory of functional equations. The work of Oresme, Cauchy, Babbage, and others, is explained within the context of the mathematical problems of interest at the time.
Christopher Small is a Professor in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of Waterloo. He has served as the co-coach on the Canadian team at the IMO (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2004), as well as the Waterloo Putnam team for the William Lowell Putnam Competition (1986-2004). His previous books include Numerical Methods for Nonlinear Estimating Equations (Oxford 2003), The Statistical Theory of Shape (Springer 1996), Hilbert Space Methods in Probability and Statistical Inference (Wiley 1994).
From the reviews:
Functional Equations and How to Solve Them fills a need and is a valuable contribution to the literature of problem solving.
– Henry Ricardo, MAA Reviews
The main purpose and merits of the book…are the many solved, unsolved, partially solved problems and hints about several particular functional equations.
– Janos Aczel, Zentralblatt
Functional Equations & How to Solve Them
Problem Books in Mathematics
Edited by P. Winkler
Problem Books in Mathematics
Series Editor: Peter Winkler
Pell’s Equation
by Edward J. Barbeau
Polynomials
by Edward J. Barbeau
Problems in Geometry
by Marcel Berger, Pierre Pansu, Jean-Pic Berry, and Xavier Saint-Raymond
Problem Book for First Year Calculus
by George W. Bluman
Exercises in Probability
by T. Cacoullos
Probability Through Problems
by Marek Capiński and Tomasz Zastawniak
An Introduction to Hilbert Space and Quantum Logic
by David W. Cohen
Unsolved Problems in Geometry
by Hallard T. Croft, Kenneth J. Falconer, and Richard K. Guy
Berkeley Problems in Mathematics, (Third Edition)
by Paulo Ney de Souza and Jorge-Nuno Silva
The IMO Compendium: A Collection of Problems Suggested for the
International Mathematical Olympiads: 1959-2004
by Dušan Djukić, Vladimir Z. Janković, Ivan Matić, and Nikola Petrović
Problem-Solving Strategies
by Arthur Engel
Problems in Analysis
by Bernard R. Gelbaum
Problems in Real and Complex Analysis
by Bernard R. Gelbaum
(continued after index)
Christopher G. Small
Functional Equations
and How to Solve Them
Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 39-xx
Library of Congress Control Number: 2006929872
ISBN-10: 0-387-34534-5 e-ISBN-10: 0-387-48901-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-387-34534-5 e-ISBN-13: 978-0-387-48901-8
Printed on acid-free paper.
© 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the
written permission of the publisher (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street,
New York, NY 10013, USA), except for with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection
with any form of information storage and retrie computer software, or by similar or dissimilar
methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden.
The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if
they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or
not they are subject to proprietary rights.
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
springer.com
Christopher G. Small
Department of Statistics & Actuarial Science
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo N2L 3G1
Canada
Series Editor:
Peter Winkler
Department of Mathematics
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755
USA
2
x
1
-1
f(x)
-1
-1.5
0
-2
1.5
0
1
0.5
2
-0.5
f(x) + f(2 x) + f(3 x) = 0
for all real x.
This functional equation is satisfied by the function f(x) ≡ 0, and also by
the strange example graphed above. To find out more about this function, see
Chapter 3.
2
x
0
-2
4
-4
2
0
-2
-4
f(x)
4
f(f(f(x))) = x
Can you discover a function f(x) which satisfies this functional equation?
Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
1 An historical introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Preliminary remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Nicole Oresme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.3 Gregory of Saint-Vincent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.4 Augustin-Louis Cauchy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.5 What about calculus? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.6 Jean d’Alembert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.7 Charles Babbage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1.8 Mathematics competitions and recreational mathematics . . . . . 16
1.9 A contribution from Ramanujan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
1.10 Simultaneous functional equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
1.11 A clarification of terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
1.12 Existence and uniqueness of solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
1.13 Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
2 Functional equations with two variables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
2.1 Cauchy’s equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
2.2 Applications of Cauchy’s equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
2.3 Jensen’s equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
2.4 Linear functional equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
2.5 Cauchy’s exponential equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
2.6 Pexider’s equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
2.7 Vincze’s equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
2.8 Cauchy’s inequality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
2.9 Equations involving functions of two variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
2.10 Euler’s equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
2.11 D’Alembert’s equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
2.12 Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
viii Contents
3 Functional equations with one variable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
3.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
3.2 Linearization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
3.3 Some basic families of equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
3.4 A menagerie of conjugacy equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
3.5 Finding solutions for conjugacy equations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
3.5.1 The Koenigs algorithm for Schröder’s equation . . . . . . . . 64
3.5.2 The Lévy algorithm for Abel’s equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
3.5.3 An algorithm for Böttcher’s equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
3.5.4 Solving commutativity equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
3.6 Generalizations of Abel’s and Schröder’s equations . . . . . . . . . . . 67
3.7 General properties of iterative roots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
3.8 Functional equations and nested radicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
3.9 Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
4 Miscellaneous methods for functional equations . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
4.1 Polynomial equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
4.2 Power series methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
4.3 Equations involving arithmetic functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
4.4 An equation using special groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
4.5 Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
5 Some closing heuristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
6 Appendix: Hamel bases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
7 Hints and partial solutions to problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
7.1 A warning to the reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
7.2 Hints for Chapter 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
7.3 Hints for Chapter 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
7.4 Hints for Chapter 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
7.5 Hints for Chapter 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
8 Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Preface
Over the years, a number of books have been written on the theory of func-
tional equations. However, few books have been published on solving func-
tional equations which arise in mathematics competitions and mathematical
problem solving. The intention of this book is to go some distance towards
filling this gap.
This work began life some years ago as a set of training notes for
mathematics competitions such as the William Lowell Putnam Competition
for undergraduate university students, and the International Mathematical
Olympiad for high school students. As part of the training for these competi-
tions, I tried to put together some systematic material on functional equations,
which have formed a part of the International Mathematical Olympiad and a
small component of the Putnam Competition. As I became more involved
in coaching students for the Putnam and the International Mathematical
Olympiad, I started to understand why there is not much training mate-
rial available in systematic form. Many would argue that there is no theory
attached to functional equations that are encountered in mathematics compe-
titions. Each such equation requires different techniques to solve it. Functional
equations are often the most difficult problems to be found on mathematics
competitions because they require a minimal amount of background theory
and a maximal amount of ingenuity. The great advantage of a problem involv-
ing functional equations is that you can construct problems that students at
all levels can understand and play with. The great disadvantage is that, for
many problems, few students can make much progress in finding solutions even
if the required techniques are essentially elementary in nature. It is perhaps
this view of functional equations which explains why most problem-solving
texts have little systematic material on the subject. Problem books in mathe-
matics usually include some functional equations in their chapters on algebra.
But by including functional equations among the problems on polynomials or
inequalities the essential character of the methodology is often lost.
As my training notes grew, so grew my conviction that we often do not do
full justice to the role of theory in the solution of functional equations. The
x Preface
result of my growing awareness of the interplay between theory and problem
application is the book you have before you. It is based upon my belief that
a firm understanding of the theory is useful in practical problem solving with
such equations. At times in this book, the marriage of theory and practice is
not seamless as there are theoretical ideas whose practical utility is limited.
However, they are an essential part of the subject that could not be omit-
ted. Moreover, today’s theoretical idea may be the inspiration for tomorrow’s
competition problem as the best problems often arise from pure research. We
shall have to wait and see.
The student who encounters a functional equation on a mathematics con-
test will need to investigate solutions to the equation by finding all solutions
(if any) or by showing that all solutions have a particular property. Our em-
phasis is on the development of those tools which are most useful in giving a
family of solutions to each functional equation in explicit form.
At the end of each chapter, readers will find a list of problems associated
with the material in that chapter. The problems vary greatly in difficulty,
with the easiest problems being accessible to any high school student who has
read the chapter carefully. It is my hope that the most difficult problems are
a reasonable challenge to advanced students studying for the International
Mathematical Olympiad at the high school level or the William Lowell Put-
nam Competition for university undergraduates. I have placed stars next to
those problems which I consider to be the harder ones. However, I recognise
that determining the level of difficulty of a problem is somewhat subjective.
What one person finds difficult, another may find easy.
In writing these training notes, I have had to make a choice as to the gen-
erality of the topics covered. The modern theory of functional equations can
occur in a very abstract setting that is quite inappropriate for the readership
I have in mind. However, the abstraction of some parts of the modern theory
reflects the fact that functional equations can occur in diverse settings: func-
tions on the natural numbers, the integers, the reals, or the complex numbers
can all be studied within the subject area of functional equations. Most of the
time, the functions I have in mind are real-valued functions of a single real
variable. However, I have tried not to be too restrictive in this. The reader will
also find functions with complex arguments and functions defined on natural
numbers in these pages. In some cases, equations for functions between circles
will also crop up. Nor are functional inequalities ignored.
One word of warning is in order. You cannot study functional equations
without making some use of the properties of limits and continuous functions.
The fact is that many problems involving functional equations depend upon
an assumption of such as continuity or some other regularity assumption that
would usually not be encountered until university. This presents a difficulty
for high school mathematics contests where the properties of limits and conti-
nuity cannot be assumed. One way to get around this problem is to substitute
another regularity condition that is more acceptable for high school mathe-
matics. Thus a problem where a continuity condition is natural may well get
Preface xi
by with the assumption of monotonicity. Although continuity and monotonic-
ity are logically independent properties (in the sense that neither implies the
other) the imposition of a monotonicity condition in a functional equations
problem may serve the same purpose as continuity. Another way around the
problem is to ask students to provide a weaker conclusion that is not “finished”
by invoking continuity. Asking students to determine the nature of a function
on the rational numbers is an example of this. Neither solution to this problem
is completely satisfactory. Fortunately, there are enough problems which can
be posed and solved using high school mathematics to serve the purpose. More
advanced contests such as the William Lowell Putnam Competition have no
such restrictions in imposing continuity or convexity, and expect the student
to treat these assumptions with mathematical maturity.
Some readers may be surprised to find that the chapter on functional
equations in a single variable follows that on functional equations in two or
more variables. However this is the correct order. An equation in two or more
variables is formally equivalent to a family of simultaneous equations in one
variable. So equations in two variables give you more to play with. I have
had to be very selective in choosing topics in the third chapter, because much
of the academic literature is devoted to establishing uniqueness theorems for
solutions within particular families of functions: functions that are convex or
real analytic, functions which obey certain order conditions, and so on. It
would be easy to simply ignore the entire subject if it were not for the fact
that functional equations in a single variable are commonplace in mathematics
competitions. So I have done my best to present those tools and unifying
concepts which occur periodically in such problems in both high school and
university competitions. Chapter 3 has been written with a confidence that
advanced high school students will adapt well to the challenge of a bit of
introductory university level mathematics. The chapters can be read more-or-
less independently of each other. There are some results in later chapters which
depend upon earlier chapters. However, the reader who wishes to sample the
book in random order can probably piece together the necessary information.
The fact that it is possible to write a book whose chapters are not heavily
dependent is a consequence of the character of functional equations. Unlike
some branches of mathematics, the subject is wide, providing easier access
from a number of perspectives. This makes it an excellent area for competition
problems. Even tough functional equations are relatively easy to state and
provide lots of “play value” for students who may not be able to solve them
completely.
Because this is a book about problem solving, the reader may be surprised
to find that it begins with a chapter of the history of the subject. It is my
belief that the present way of teaching mathematics to students puts much
emphasis on the tools of mathematics, and not enough on the intellectual
climate which gave rise to these ideas. Functional equations were posed and
solved for reasons that had much to do with the intellectual challenges of
xii Preface
their times. This book attempts to provide a small glimpse of some of those
reasons.
I have learned much about functional equations from other people. This
book also owes much to others. So this preface would not be complete with-
out some mention of the debts that I owe. I have learned much from the
work of Janos Aczél, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of
Waterloo. The impact of his work and that of his colleagues is to be found
throughout the following pages in places too numerous to mention. The initial
stages of this monograph were written at the instigation of Pat Stewart and
Richard Nowakowski. Sadly, Pat Stewart is no longer with us, and is missed
by the mathematical community. Thank you, Patrick and Richard. Finally, I
would like to thank Professor Ed Barbeau, who generously sent some of his
correspondence problems to me. His encouragement and assistance are much
appreciated.
1
An historical introduction
1.1 Preliminary remarks
In high school algebra, we learn about algebraic equations involving one or
more unknown real numbers. Functional equations are much like algebraic
equations, except that the unknown quantities are functions rather than real
numbers. This book is about functional equations: their role in contempo-
rary mathematics as well as the body of techniques that is available for their
solution. Functional equations appear quite regularly on mathematics com-
petitions. So this book is intended as a toolkit of methods for students who
wish to tackle competition problems involving functional equations at the high
school or university level.
In this chapter, we take a rather broad look at functional equations. Rather
than focusing on the solutions to such equations—a topic for later chapters—
we show how functional equations arise in mathematical investigations. Our
entry into the subject is primarily, but not solely, historical.
1.2 Nicole Oresme
Mathematicians have been working with functional equations for a much
longer period of time than the formal discipline has existed. Examples of early
functional equations can be traced back as far as the work of the fourteenth
century mathematician Nicole Oresme who provided an indirect definition
of linear functions by means of a functional equation. Of Norman heritage,
Oresme was born in 1323 and died in 1382. To put these dates in perspective,
we should note that the dreaded Black Death, which swept through Europe
killing possibly as much as a third of the population, occurred around the
middle of the fourteenth century. Although the origins of the Black Death
are unclear, we know that by December of 1347, it had reached the western
Mediterranean through the …
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