Functional Equations – Solving f(x + f(y)) = f(x) + y

functional-equations

I found this problem in an old book of mine. The question asks to find all the functions $f: \mathbb Q \to \mathbb R$ which satisfy $f(x+f(y)) = f(x) + y$ for all rational numbers $x,y$. Also I am unsure what $f: \mathbb Q \to \mathbb R$ means exactly when compared to $f: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$

I have been experimenting with this problem and the only two functions I could find were $f(x) = x$ or $f(x) = -x$. Although these functions seem to be the only working ones (purely based on guess and check), I cannot seem to find a proof.

Best Answer

As Servaes pointed out in a comment, we see that $f(x)\in \mathbb{Q}$ for all $x$.

  • Set $x=0$ and you get $f(f(y)) =f(0)+y$ so $f$ is injective.
  • Let $y=0$ you get $f(x+f(0))=f(x)$ and since $f$ is injective we have $x+f(0)=x$ so $f(0)=0$ and $f(f(y))=y$ for all $y$.
  • Let $y=f(t)$ then $f(x+t) = f(x)+f(t)$, so $f$ is solution of Cauchy FE and thus $f(x)=ax$ for some $a$.
  • Plug that in original equation to get $a=\pm 1$.

To solve $f: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ you need some aditional asumption for $f$. You can not say $f(x)=ax$ immediately.

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