Questions tagged [functional-equations]
The functional-equations tag has no usage guidance.
212
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Does any research mathematics involve solving functional equations?
This is a somewhat frivolous question, so I won't mind if it gets closed. One of the categories of Olympiad-style problems (e.g. at the IMO) is solving various functional equations, such as those ...
51
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4
answers
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Function satisfying $f^{-1} =f'$
How many functions are there which are differentiable on $(0,\infty)$ and that satisfy the relation $f^{-1}=f'$?
45
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10
answers
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The functional equation $f(f(x))=x+f(x)^2$
I'd like to gather information and references on the following functional equation for power series $$f(f(x))=x+f(x)^2,$$$$f(x)=\sum_{k=1}^\infty c_k x^k$$
(so $c_0=0$ is imposed).
First things that ...
31
votes
1
answer
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$f'=e^{f^{-1}}$, again
This question is a spin-off of this one, in which the OP asks whether there is a solution $f:\mathbb R\to\mathbb R$ of the functional equation (not exactly an ODE) $f'=e^{f^{-1}}$, where $f^{-1}$ is ...
29
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3
answers
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Rational functions with a common iterate
Let $f$ and $g$ be two rational functions. To avoid trivialities, we suppose that their degrees are
at least $2$. We say that they have a common iterate if $f^m=g^n$ for some positive integers $m,n$,
...
28
votes
4
answers
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For a continuous function $f:\mathbb{R}^{+}\to\mathbb{R}^{+}$ does $(f(x)-f(y)) (f(\frac{x+y}{2}) - f(\sqrt{xy}))=0$ imply that $f$ is constant?
Suppose that $f: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+$ is a continuous function such that for all positive real numbers $x,y$ the following is true :
$$(f(x)-f(y)) \left ( f \left ( \frac{x+y}{2} \right ) - ...
27
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1
answer
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Are there any non-linear solutions of Cauchy's equation $f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)$ without assuming the Axiom of Choice?
Let $f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be s.t. $f(x+y) = f(x) + f(y), \ \forall x, y$
It is quite obvious that this implies $f(cx)=cx$ for all $c \in \mathbb{Z}$ and even further: $\forall c \in \...
20
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9
answers
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What is the indefinite sum of tan(x)?
What is the indefinite sum of the tangent function, that is, the function $T$ for which
$\Delta_x T = T(x + 1) - T(x) = \tan(x)$
Of course, there are infinitely many answers, who all differ by a ...
18
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3
answers
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Is there a general solution for the differential equation $f''(x) = f(f(x))$?
I'm currently an undergraduate studying differential equations and I've been fixated on the differential equation $f''(x) = f(f(x))$ for the past 2 days. I can't seem to crack it but it feels like it ...
16
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3
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How do i solve this : $\displaystyle \ f'=e^{{f}^{-1}}$?
Let $f$ be a function such that :$f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}$ and $f^{-1}$ is a compositional inverse of $f$. I would'd like to know how do I solve this class of differential equation : $$\...
16
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2
answers
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Getting a differential equation for a function from a functional equation of its Mellin transform
If $f$ is a locally integrable function then its Mellin transform
$\mathcal{M}[f]$ is defined by
$$ \mathcal{M}[f] (s) = \int_0^{\infty} x^{s - 1} f (x) dx . $$
This integral usually converges in a ...
14
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2
answers
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Modular equations for quasimodular forms
This problem is motivated by this question and by teaching
modular polynomials for the classical modular invariant $j(\tau)$.
The latter implies
that if we consider the fields of modular functions $\...
13
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answers
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Finding f such that f(f(x))=g(x) given g
Suppose $g(x)$ is a smooth increasing function defined for $x \ge 0$ such that $g(x) \ge x$ for all $x$. Does there exist a function $f$ with similar properties such that $f(f(x))=g(x)$ for all $x \ge ...
12
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4
answers
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Relating the roots of polynomials to the solution sets of certain functional equations
Consider a functional equation of the following form:
$$\sum_{k=0}^n a_k\,\underbrace{f(f(\cdots f}_{k}(x)\cdots )=0\quad \big(f:\,\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R},\;a_i\in \mathbb{R},\;\text{and}\;f^0=\text{...
12
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2
answers
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Series defined by a fixed-point functional equation
Description
I my work, I met fixed-point functional equations of a very specific form. Since I am not expert in the domain of functional equations, I have not pushed the study of these very far. Here ...
11
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2
answers
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What are the iterates of $x \mapsto 1 - \sqrt{1-x^2}$?
Let $f\colon [0,1]\to[0,1]$ be given by $f(x) = 1-\sqrt{1-x^2}$, i.e., the increasing auto-homeomorphism of $[0,1]$ whose graph is a quarter circle centered at $(0,1)$. I am interested in what can be ...
11
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Which trigonometric identities involve trigonometric functions?
Another question that's getting no answers on stackexchange:
Once upon a time, when Wikipedia was only three-and-a-half years old and most people didn't know what it was, the article titled ...
11
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3
answers
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How many operad structures are there on the symmetric sequence of simplices / finitely-supported probability measures?
Consider the symmetric sequence $P_n = \Delta^{n-1}$ of probability measures on finite sets, with coordinatewise $\Sigma_n$-action. There is a natural topological operad structure on $P$ given by ...
10
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1
answer
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A conjecture about certain values of the Fabius function
The Fabius function is a smooth monotone function $F:[0,1]\to[0,1]$, satisfying functional equations
$$F(0)=0, \quad F(1-x)=1-F(x)\tag1$$
and
$$F'(x) = 2 \,F(2 x) \quad \text{for} \,\, 0<x<1/2.\...
10
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2
answers
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Proving the simple form of a function from statistical mechanics
I have discovered a pertinent solution to my problem in the article On the Kinetic Theory of Rarefied Gases by Harold Grad and the book Thermodynamik und Statistik by Arnold Sommerfeld, both of which ...
10
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3
answers
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Progress in robustifying mathematics - i.e. making mathematical theorems robust to small changes in hypotheses
The idea of making a mathematical theorem robust to small changes in its hypotheses has been known for some time. In areas such as group theory reasonable progress has been made leading to the theory ...
10
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2
answers
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A functional equation involving the inverse function
$\newcommand\ep\epsilon\newcommand\R{\mathbb R}$Let $P$ denote the set of all continuous probability density functions (pdf's) $p$ on $\R$ vanishing at $\pm\infty$. Let us say that a pdf $p\in P$ is ...
9
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4
answers
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How may I find all continuous and bounded functions g with the following property?
Find all continuous and bounded functions $g$
with :
$$\forall x \in \mathbb R, 4g(x)=g(x+1)+g(x-1)+g(x+\pi)+g(x-\pi).$$
I have posted this question here, but received no answer.
9
votes
1
answer
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Some nice functional equations for $q$-continued fractions
Given $\large q=e^{2\pi i \tau}$. Define,
$$\alpha(\tau) = \sqrt2\,q^{1/8}\prod_{n=1}^\infty\frac{ (1-q^{4n-1})(1-q^{4n-3})}{(1-q^{4n-2})(1-q^{4n-2})}$$
$$\beta(\tau) = q^{1/5}\prod_{n=1}^\infty\frac{ ...
8
votes
2
answers
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Solving functional equation $f(xy)=f(x+y)$ and Diophantine equations
It is well known that the only solution is $f$ a constant function. However, by putting some restrictions on the functional equation, we might get other solutions, with potential implications to ...
8
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1
answer
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Hahn-Banach theorem with real extended valued function
Hello to everyone,
My problem is the following: I have this version of the Hahn-Banach theorem:
Let V be a vector space and let $p:V\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be any
convex function. Let $W$ be a vector ...
8
votes
2
answers
381
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Linearizing a power series by conjugation
Let $\mathfrak{I}:=\big\{ \, f:=\sum_{k=0}^\infty f_k z^k \in\mathbb{C}[[z]]\; : \text{s.t. }\; f_0=0 \;\text{ and }\; f_1=1\big\}$. A most basic result about linearization states that, for any $f\...
8
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1
answer
454
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Functional equation with Fourier transform and $\frac{1}{x} f(\frac{1}{x}) $
What are the continuous functions $f$ such that on $\mathbb{R}^{+*}$, they satisfy following functional equation:
$$\int_0^\infty f(t) e^{-itx} \, dt =\lambda \frac{1}{x} f\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)$$
$\...
8
votes
1
answer
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$f(f(z)) = z , f(\exp(z)) = \exp(f(z)) $?
While talking about tetration with my friend the following idea (re)occured.
$$f(f(z)) = z ,\quad f(\exp(z)) = \exp(f(z)) \tag{A}\label{A}$$
or variations of it like the weaker
$$f(f(f(f(z)))) = z ,\...
8
votes
0
answers
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Zappa-Szép products of the group of integers with itself
Since my previous question didn't get much attention and I couldn't make any relevant progress on it, I thought it would be a good idea to "simplify" it by replacing monoids by groups. That is:
...
7
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2
answers
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On the consistency of the definition of the conductor for automorphic forms
Let $\pi$ be an irreducible admissible representation of $\mathrm{GL}_2(F)$, where $F$ is local non-archimedean. The local conductor associated to $\pi$ can be defined in two usual manners:
By its ...
7
votes
4
answers
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$n$th root of $(a,b) \mapsto (\operatorname{gm}, \operatorname{am})$
Suppose $0 < a < b$, and let GM and AM be respectively the geometric and arithmetic means of $a$ and $b$. Does the mapping $(a,b) \mapsto (\operatorname{GM}, \operatorname{AM})$ have a well-...
7
votes
2
answers
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Characterizing when matrices are 'dissipative'
An $n$ by $n$ matrix A is said to be dissipative with respect to a norm $\|\cdot \|$ if for all $x$ and $t\geq 0$, we have $\|e^{At}x\|\leq\|x\|$. Two matrices $A$ and $B$ are said to be jointly ...
7
votes
1
answer
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On the functional equation $f(xf(y))=\frac{f(f(x))}y$ on arbitrary groups
In this answer, it was shown that there is no function $f\colon\mathbb Q_{+}^{*}\to\mathbb Q_{+}^{*}$ such that
\begin{equation}
f(xf(y))=\frac{f(f(x))}y \label{1}\tag{1}
\end{equation}
for all $x$...
7
votes
0
answers
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General solution of the Multiplicative symmetry equation $f(xf(y))=f(f(x)y)$ in nonabelian groups
As we know, the functional equation $f(xf(y))=f(f(x)y)$ was completely solved in abelian groups (by J. G. Dhombres, Solution... $f(x\ast
f(y))=f(y\ast f(x))$, Aequationes Math. 15 (1977), 173--193, ...
6
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1
answer
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Does it follow that $F^{(1)}(z)=F^{(2)}(z)$ for all $z \in \mathbb H$?
Let $\mathbb H= \{z \in \mathbb C\,:\, \textrm{Re}\,(z)\geq 0\}$ and for $j=1,2$ suppose that $F^{(j)}:\mathbb H\to \mathbb H$ is defined via
$$ F^{(j)}(z) = \sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \frac{a_k^{(j)}}{z+\...
6
votes
1
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A second-order recursion (functional equation)
In a calculation of some momenta of random matrices (GOE), I encounter a functional equation, in the form of a second-order recursion,
$$L(s+1)=L(s)+2s(2s+1)L(s-1).$$
Is it familiar to someone ? Is ...
6
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1
answer
495
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What is known about the functional square root of the Riemann zeta function?
Let us consider the Riemann zeta function $\zeta(s)$, where $s$ can take on values on the domain $\mathbb{R}_{>1}$:
$$\zeta(s) := \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^{s}} .$$
I wonder what is known ...
6
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1
answer
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On a generalization of the classical Cauchy's functional equation
I start with some known preliminaries on the problem:
Classical result. The one-dimensional Cauchy functional equation
$$
\forall x,y \in \mathbb{R}, \,\,\,f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)
$$
with $f:\mathbb{R}\to \...
6
votes
1
answer
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Techniques to solve equations involving a definite integral [closed]
Are there any well known techniques to solve a problem of the following form: $$\int_a^b f(x,\alpha) dx = g(\alpha),$$ where $a,b\in\mathbb{R}$ are fixed, $f$ and $g$ are known functions, $\alpha\in\...
6
votes
1
answer
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Is this method of "fractional sums" using a Fourier series viable?
Hi.
I have this idea about developing what I call a "continuum sum", that is, a method to "add up a non-integer number of terms", i.e. to see if there is a "natural" way to assign a meaning to the ...
6
votes
1
answer
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"inversion" of a convolution
I have the following relation:
$$
\sum_{d|n} (1+1/x)^{d-1} F_{n/d}(x^d)=L_n(x)
$$
where the right hand side is (for every $n$) a polynomial in $x$, which I have an expression for, but it's not ...
6
votes
0
answers
167
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Boolean functional equations
My current approach to investigating reversible quantum gates requires the solution of Boolean functional equations. For example,
$$f(x,y,z) = f(x,y \oplus f(x,y,z), z \oplus f(x, y, z)),$$
where $f\...
6
votes
0
answers
136
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Functions on [0,1] with positive fractional series coefficients and symmetric under x->1-x
Suppose a function $g(x)$ has a convergent power series expansion with real (not necessarily integer or rational) exponents on $[0,1]$ of the form
$$
g(x)=\frac{1}{x^\delta}(1+\sum_{i=1}^\infty c_i x^{...
5
votes
5
answers
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Are there functions satisfying the following integral condition?
Can we find two functions $f$ and $g$ that are reasonably defined nontrivial(not everywhere zero, $f\neq g$, not linear polynomials) functions such that the following condition is satisfied?
$$ f( \...
5
votes
3
answers
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Does there exist another form of the derivative for polynomials?
Let $F : \mathbb{R}[X] \rightarrow \mathbb R[X]$ be a linear map and let $H \in \mathbb{R}[u,x,y,z]$ be a polynomial. Suppose that
$$ F(P \cdot Q) = H(F(P),F(Q),P,Q)$$
for all $P, Q \in \mathbb{R}[X]...
5
votes
1
answer
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A variant of Cauchy-type functional equation conjecture
Let $f:\mathbb{C}\to \mathbb{C}$ be a complex function such that
$$|f(x-y)|=|f(x)-f(y)|,\qquad x,y\in\mathbb{C}.$$
Is it true that $$f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y),\qquad x,y\in\mathbb{C}?$$
The answer is ...
5
votes
2
answers
296
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A functional equation for a family of functions indexed by the symmetric group $S_3$
$\newcommand{\C}{\mathbb C}$A question asked recently was as follows:
For the symmetric group $G:=S_3$, is it possible to construct functions $t_g\colon\C\to\C$ that satisfy the convolution identity
...
5
votes
1
answer
213
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A functional equation in two complex variables
Let $X$ be a compact metric space, or just $X=\mathbb T$, the unit circle, if it helps. We consider only continuous, complex-valued functions on $X$.
Let $\varepsilon >0$. Is there $\delta > ...
5
votes
2
answers
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views
Existence of Solution, System of Equations
Suppose $P(\lambda, i)$ is the probability that a Poisson random variable with average $\lambda$ is equal to $i$, i.e. $\frac{\lambda^i}{e^{\lambda}i!}$
I think the following system of equations ...