Ivan Shishkin, Rye (1878)

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Two equations with integer functions

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Solution

Solution by Anduril · EN

  1. Let’s assume such a function exists. We have f(f(x))=x+1(E)f(f(x))=x+1\,\,(E).
    By applying ff to this equation we get : f3(x)=f(x+1)f^3(x)=f(x+1).
    Also, by replacing xx with f(x)f(x) in (E)(E) : f3(x)=f(x)+1f^3(x)=f(x)+1. Hence, with a:=f(0)a:= f(0), one gets f(x)=x+af(x)=x+a and f(f(x))=x+2af(f(x))=x+2a. With the hypothesis : x+1=f(f(x))=x+2ax+1 =f(f(x)) = x+2a so 2a=12a=1 but aa is an integer. That is a contradiction.

  2. With a similar reasoning, a solution would satisfy : f(x+2)=f(x)+2f(x+2)=f(x)+2. So with g(x):=f(2x)g(x):=f(2x), we have g(x+1)=g(x)+2g(x+1)=g(x)+2 and so g(x)=2x+ag(x)=2x+a where a:=f(0)a:=f(0).

Symmetrically we have : f(2x)=2x+af(2x)=2x+a and f(2x+1)=2x+1+bf(2x+1)=2x+1+b where b:=f(1)1b:=f(1)-1.

Hence, using the original relation f(f(x))=x+2f(f(x))=x+2 one gets:

\hookrightarrow If aa is even, say a=2ka=2k : 2(x+k)+a=f(2x+2k)=f(f(2x))=2x+22(x+k)+a= f(2x+2k)= f(f(2x)) = 2x + 2 so a=1a = 1, which is absurd.

\hookrightarrow So aa is odd, say a=2k+1a=2k+1 : 2x+2k+1+b=f(2x+2k+1)=f(f(2x))=2x+22x + 2k+1 + b= f(2x+2k+1)=f(f(2x)) = 2x + 2 so a+b=2a+b = 2.
But since aa is an odd non-negative integer and b=f(1)1b=f(1)-1 is greater than 1-1, one gets either a=b=1a=b=1 or a=3a=3 and b=1b=-1.

Finally, this leads to two possible functions: f1 ⁣:xx+1f_1\colon x\mapsto x+1 and f2f_2 such that f2(2x):=2x+3f_2(2x):=2x+3 and f2(2x+1)=2xf_2(2x+1)=2x for all xNx\in\N.

Reciprocally, a quick check implies that these functions are indeed solutions of our problem, which concludes.

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