The following function $$f(x)=-2 \cos \left(\sqrt{2} \arccos \left(\frac{x-1}{2}\right)\right)+1$$ has interesting property to form a continuous curve with its own integer iterations. The following image illustrates this property: ![alt text][1] Here blue is f(x), red is f(f(x)), yellow is f(f(f(x))) and green is f(f(f(f(x)))). It seems that all these functions form a continuous, and, probably, smooth curve. The question is what is the general criterion for a function to have such property. Can you point some more examples of functions with such property? P.S. If to use the folowing function $$f(x)=-2 \cos \left(\sqrt{2} \arccos \left(\frac{x-1}{2}\right)\right)+1.1$$ the curve becomes as below with one continuous branch and numerous closed circular branches. ![alt text][2] For function $$f(x)=-2 \cos \left(\sqrt{2} \arccos \left(\frac{x-1}{2}\right)\right)+0.9$$ the curve is completely continuous and seems to be smooth. ![alt text][3] [1]: http://static.itmages.ru/i/10/1201/h_1291177404_9062e5977d.png [2]: http://static.itmages.ru/i/10/1201/h_1291214023_dcadf36911.png [3]: http://static.itmages.ru/i/10/1201/h_1291213783_96931fa742.png