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IMOmath - Cauchy Equation and Equations of Cauchy Type

The Cauchy equation is f(x+y) = f(x) + f(y). If the domain is rational numbers, the only solution is f(x) = x*f(1). However, with real numbers as the domain, there are other possible solutions. If a function satisfies conditions like monotonicity, continuity, boundedness, or positivity, then the only solution is f(x) = x*f(1). Some related equations can be reduced to the Cauchy equation, such as equations for continuous functions from positive reals to positives reals or reals.

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69 views2 pages

IMOmath - Cauchy Equation and Equations of Cauchy Type

The Cauchy equation is f(x+y) = f(x) + f(y). If the domain is rational numbers, the only solution is f(x) = x*f(1). However, with real numbers as the domain, there are other possible solutions. If a function satisfies conditions like monotonicity, continuity, boundedness, or positivity, then the only solution is f(x) = x*f(1). Some related equations can be reduced to the Cauchy equation, such as equations for continuous functions from positive reals to positives reals or reals.

Uploaded by

Thang Thang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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7/16/2016 IMOmath: 

Cauchy Equation and Equations of Cauchy Type

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Functional equations (Table of contents)

Cauchy Equation and Equations of Cauchy
Type
The equation f (x + y) = f (x) + f (y)  is called the Cauchy equation. If its domain is Q , it is
well­known that the solution is given by f (x) = xf (1) . That fact is easy to prove using
mathematical induction. The next problem is simply the extention of the domain from Q  to R .
With a relatively easy counter­example we can show that the solution to the Cauchy equation
in this case doesn′t have to be f (x) = xf (1) . However there are many additional
assumptions that forces the general solution to be of the described form. Namely if a function f
satisfies any of the conditions:

monotonicity on some interval of the real line;

continuity;

boundedness on some interval;

positivity on the ray x ≥ 0 ;

then the general solution to the Cauchy equation f : R → S  has to be f (x) = xf (1) .

The following equations can be easily reduced to the Cauchy equation.

All continuous functions f : R → (0, +∞)  satisfying f (x + y) = f (x)f (y)  are of


the form f (x) = ax . Namely the function g(x) = log f (x)  is continuous and satisfies
the Cauchy equation.

All continuous functions f : (0, +∞) → R  satisfying f (xy) = f (x) + f (y)  are of


the form f (x) = loga x . Now the function g(x) = f (ax )  is continuous and satisfies
the Cauchy equation.

All continuous functions f : (0, +∞) → (0, +∞)  satisfying f (xy) = f (x)f (y)  are 
f (x) = x , where t = loga b  and f (a) = b . Indeed the function g(x) = log f (a )  is
t x

continuous and satisfies the Cauchy equation.

Functional equations (Table of contents)

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7/16/2016 IMOmath: Cauchy Equation and Equations of Cauchy Type

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