Does there exist a continuous function $f$ such that $f(x)+f(x^2)=x$ for $x\in[0,1]$

continuityexamples-counterexamplesfunctional-equationspower seriesreal-analysis

Let $f$ be a continuous real valued function from $[0,1]$ such that
$$f(x)+f(x^2)=x$$
for all $x\in [0,1]$. Does there exist such a function?

Plugging $x=0$ and $x=1$ respectively in the given equation we obtain $f(0)=0$ and $f(1)=\frac{1}{2}$. By the intermediate value theorem, $f$ attains any value between $0$ and $1$. Moreover, the range of $f$ is $[m,M]$ where $m$ (resp. $M$) is the minimum (resp. maximum) value of the function over $[0,1]$. How to use these facts to decide whether such function exists or not? Please give some hint to proceed. Thank you.

Best Answer

No, there is no such function. Suppose that $F(x)+F(x^2)=x$ and $F$ is continuous on $[0,1]$. We use the function $f(x), \ g(x)$ in my answer to this post where it is proved that $f(x)-g(x)$ is not a constant function. The functions $f(x), \ g(x)$ originate from Hardy's 'Divergent Series'. To recall the definition, $$ f(x)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} (-1)^n x^{2^n}, $$ $$ g(x)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{(\log x)^n}{(2^n+1)n!}. $$ It is easy to check that $f(x)+f(x^2)=x$ and $g(x)+g(x^2)=x$.

Now, since $F(x)$ on $[0,1]$ is continuous and $F(x)+F(x^2)=x$, we have $\Phi(x)=F(x)-g(x)$ satisfying $$ \Phi(x)=-\Phi(x^2)=\Phi(x^4). $$ Note that $g(x)$ is continuous on $(0,1]$. Thus, $\lim_{x\rightarrow 1-} \Phi(x)$ exists. Then such $\Phi$ satisfying $\Phi(x)=\Phi(x^4)$ must be a constant function. Let $\Phi(x)=c$. We have $$ F(x)-g(x)=c \ \ \textrm{ if } x\in (0,1]. \ \ (1) $$ Similarly, let $\Psi(x)=f(x)-F(x)$. Then $\Psi(x)=\Psi(x^4)$. As $f$ is a power series at $0$, we have $\lim_{x\rightarrow 0+} f(x) = 0$. Then we must have $\lim_{x\rightarrow 0+} \Psi(x)=-F(0)$. Such $\Psi$ satisfying $\Psi(x)=\Psi(x^4)$ must be a constant function. Thus, $$ f(x)-F(x)=-F(0) \ \ \textrm{ if } x\in [0,1). \ \ (2) $$ Summing up (1) and (2), we have $$ f(x)-g(x)=c-F(0) \ \ \textrm{ if } x\in (0,1). $$ Therefore, we have a contradiction since $f(x)-g(x)$ cannot be constant on $(0,1)$ as proved in my MO answer.

Remark The phenomenon we are observing here is that $f$ is oscillatory around $1$, and $g$ is oscillatory around $0$.