A functional equation of two variables












6














Solve the following functional equation :
$f:Bbb Z rightarrow Bbb Z$, $f(f(x)+y)=x+f(y+2017)$



I have no prior experience with solving functional equation but still tried a bit. I set $x=y=0$ to get $f(f(0))=f(2017)$. Can we apply $f^{-1}$ both sides to get $f(0)=2017$? I am unable to carry this on.










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  • 1




    It's allowed to take $f^{-1}$ on both sides if a function is monotonic. Can you assume that $f$ is monotonic in this case?
    – Matti P.
    yesterday










  • Of $f$ is not injective you can't cancel it out
    – Holo
    yesterday










  • @MattiP. Not monotonic, to be able to use $f^{-1}$ you need $f$ to be bijective, and to cancel out $f$ you need it to be injective
    – Holo
    yesterday










  • It holds, because we have that at $y=-2017$, $f(0)=f(f(x)-2017)-x$ and at $f(x)=2017$, $f(0)=f(0)-x|_{f(x)=2017}$ so that $f(0)=2017$.
    – TheSimpliFire
    yesterday












  • $f(x)=x+2017$ is clearly a solution, and probably the only solution, showing nothing else works is proving to be tricky though.
    – Erik Parkinson
    yesterday
















6














Solve the following functional equation :
$f:Bbb Z rightarrow Bbb Z$, $f(f(x)+y)=x+f(y+2017)$



I have no prior experience with solving functional equation but still tried a bit. I set $x=y=0$ to get $f(f(0))=f(2017)$. Can we apply $f^{-1}$ both sides to get $f(0)=2017$? I am unable to carry this on.










share|cite|improve this question




















  • 1




    It's allowed to take $f^{-1}$ on both sides if a function is monotonic. Can you assume that $f$ is monotonic in this case?
    – Matti P.
    yesterday










  • Of $f$ is not injective you can't cancel it out
    – Holo
    yesterday










  • @MattiP. Not monotonic, to be able to use $f^{-1}$ you need $f$ to be bijective, and to cancel out $f$ you need it to be injective
    – Holo
    yesterday










  • It holds, because we have that at $y=-2017$, $f(0)=f(f(x)-2017)-x$ and at $f(x)=2017$, $f(0)=f(0)-x|_{f(x)=2017}$ so that $f(0)=2017$.
    – TheSimpliFire
    yesterday












  • $f(x)=x+2017$ is clearly a solution, and probably the only solution, showing nothing else works is proving to be tricky though.
    – Erik Parkinson
    yesterday














6












6








6


2





Solve the following functional equation :
$f:Bbb Z rightarrow Bbb Z$, $f(f(x)+y)=x+f(y+2017)$



I have no prior experience with solving functional equation but still tried a bit. I set $x=y=0$ to get $f(f(0))=f(2017)$. Can we apply $f^{-1}$ both sides to get $f(0)=2017$? I am unable to carry this on.










share|cite|improve this question















Solve the following functional equation :
$f:Bbb Z rightarrow Bbb Z$, $f(f(x)+y)=x+f(y+2017)$



I have no prior experience with solving functional equation but still tried a bit. I set $x=y=0$ to get $f(f(0))=f(2017)$. Can we apply $f^{-1}$ both sides to get $f(0)=2017$? I am unable to carry this on.







functional-equations






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edited yesterday









Cheerful Parsnip

20.9k23396




20.9k23396










asked yesterday









Epsilon zero

32418




32418








  • 1




    It's allowed to take $f^{-1}$ on both sides if a function is monotonic. Can you assume that $f$ is monotonic in this case?
    – Matti P.
    yesterday










  • Of $f$ is not injective you can't cancel it out
    – Holo
    yesterday










  • @MattiP. Not monotonic, to be able to use $f^{-1}$ you need $f$ to be bijective, and to cancel out $f$ you need it to be injective
    – Holo
    yesterday










  • It holds, because we have that at $y=-2017$, $f(0)=f(f(x)-2017)-x$ and at $f(x)=2017$, $f(0)=f(0)-x|_{f(x)=2017}$ so that $f(0)=2017$.
    – TheSimpliFire
    yesterday












  • $f(x)=x+2017$ is clearly a solution, and probably the only solution, showing nothing else works is proving to be tricky though.
    – Erik Parkinson
    yesterday














  • 1




    It's allowed to take $f^{-1}$ on both sides if a function is monotonic. Can you assume that $f$ is monotonic in this case?
    – Matti P.
    yesterday










  • Of $f$ is not injective you can't cancel it out
    – Holo
    yesterday










  • @MattiP. Not monotonic, to be able to use $f^{-1}$ you need $f$ to be bijective, and to cancel out $f$ you need it to be injective
    – Holo
    yesterday










  • It holds, because we have that at $y=-2017$, $f(0)=f(f(x)-2017)-x$ and at $f(x)=2017$, $f(0)=f(0)-x|_{f(x)=2017}$ so that $f(0)=2017$.
    – TheSimpliFire
    yesterday












  • $f(x)=x+2017$ is clearly a solution, and probably the only solution, showing nothing else works is proving to be tricky though.
    – Erik Parkinson
    yesterday








1




1




It's allowed to take $f^{-1}$ on both sides if a function is monotonic. Can you assume that $f$ is monotonic in this case?
– Matti P.
yesterday




It's allowed to take $f^{-1}$ on both sides if a function is monotonic. Can you assume that $f$ is monotonic in this case?
– Matti P.
yesterday












Of $f$ is not injective you can't cancel it out
– Holo
yesterday




Of $f$ is not injective you can't cancel it out
– Holo
yesterday












@MattiP. Not monotonic, to be able to use $f^{-1}$ you need $f$ to be bijective, and to cancel out $f$ you need it to be injective
– Holo
yesterday




@MattiP. Not monotonic, to be able to use $f^{-1}$ you need $f$ to be bijective, and to cancel out $f$ you need it to be injective
– Holo
yesterday












It holds, because we have that at $y=-2017$, $f(0)=f(f(x)-2017)-x$ and at $f(x)=2017$, $f(0)=f(0)-x|_{f(x)=2017}$ so that $f(0)=2017$.
– TheSimpliFire
yesterday






It holds, because we have that at $y=-2017$, $f(0)=f(f(x)-2017)-x$ and at $f(x)=2017$, $f(0)=f(0)-x|_{f(x)=2017}$ so that $f(0)=2017$.
– TheSimpliFire
yesterday














$f(x)=x+2017$ is clearly a solution, and probably the only solution, showing nothing else works is proving to be tricky though.
– Erik Parkinson
yesterday




$f(x)=x+2017$ is clearly a solution, and probably the only solution, showing nothing else works is proving to be tricky though.
– Erik Parkinson
yesterday










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















9














Got it! I probably complicated it more than I had to so if anyone sees any way to simply this I would love to hear feedback.



To solve this, let $y=0$ so that
$f(f(x)) = x+f(2017)$.
Let $c=f(2017)$. Then for all $xinmathbb{Z}$,
$$f(f(x)) = x+c$$



Now plugging $x=y=0$ into the original equation we get
$f(f(0)) = f(2017)$. Taking $f$ of both sides yields
$f(f(f(0))) = f(f(2017))$ which is $f(0)+c=2017+c$ so
$f(0) = 2017$.



Now take $f$ of both sides of the original equation to get
$f(f(f(x)+y)) = f(x+f(y+2017))$
which is
$f(x)+y + c = f(x+f(y+2017))$
Setting $y=-2017$ gives
$$f(x)-2017 + c = f(x+f(0)) = f(x+2017)$$.



Now we return again to the original equation with $y=1$. This gives
$f(f(x)+1) = x+f(2018)$ which by the above formula is
$x+f(1)-2017 + c$. So
$$f(f(x)+1)-f(f(x)) = x+f(1)-2017+c - (x+c) = f(1)-2017$$



Now, as $f(f(x)) = x+c$, $f(f(x))$, and thus $f(x)$, can attain all values in $mathbb{Z}$. So for any $kinmathbb{Z}$, there is an $xinmathbb{Z}$ such that $f(x)=k$, and so the above formula becomes
$$f(k+1)-f(k) = f(1)-2017$$
for all $kinmathbb{Z}$. So for all $kinmathbb{Z}$,
$$f(k) = k+c_2$$
for some $c_2$. So the original equation becomes
$$x+y+2c_2=x+y+2017+c_2$$
so $c_2=2017$. Thus the only solution is
$$f(x) = x+2017$$






share|cite|improve this answer








New contributor




Erik Parkinson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.


















  • (+1) nice! ${}{}$
    – TheSimpliFire
    yesterday



















2














You could take $y=0$ there and get $f(f(x))=x+f(2017)=x+n$ where $n$ is a constant. Thus $f(f(x))$ is a linear function. You can observe (guess?) what $f(x)$ could be like here. If it is so, then you have no problem taking $f^{-1}$ and you can easily find $n$.



The point is how to prove the nature of $f(x)$ if you know $f(f(x))$ is linear. This is an interesting problem. What is the square root (with integer values) of a linear function?



Now here I'm not sure $f(x)$ will end up being a simple function involving only arithmetic operations, or a function also involving the modulo.






share|cite|improve this answer










New contributor




Ferred is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.














  • 1




    This is better posted as a comment. As you don't yet have enough reputation for that, how about answering some other questions and come back? :)
    – TheSimpliFire
    yesterday





















2














Let $n$ be an integer. Then at $f(x)=n$ and $y=0$, the equation $f(f(x)+y)=x+f(y+n)$ becomes $f(n+y)=f(y+n)+xBig|_{f(x)=n}$, so $f(0)=n$.



Now at $f(x)=n+1$, we can derive similar relations, at $y=0$ and $y=-1$ respectively, $$xBig|_{f(x)=n+1}=f(n+1)-f(n)=f(n)-f(n-1)implies 2f(n)=f(n-1)+f(n+1).$$



By induction it can be proven that $2f(n)=f(n-x)+f(n+x)$ or $2f(n)=f(x)+f(2n-x)$ for any integer $x$. Assuming differentiability, $f'(x)-f'(2n-x)=0$ so $f$ is either a linear or periodic function. It cannot be periodic because $f(0)=n$ and $xBig|_{f(x)=0}=f(n)-f(0)$.



Thus $f$ is a linear function and putting it in $f(x)=ax+b$, gives us $b=n$ and $a=1$ since $f(f(x))=x+f(n)$.






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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    9














    Got it! I probably complicated it more than I had to so if anyone sees any way to simply this I would love to hear feedback.



    To solve this, let $y=0$ so that
    $f(f(x)) = x+f(2017)$.
    Let $c=f(2017)$. Then for all $xinmathbb{Z}$,
    $$f(f(x)) = x+c$$



    Now plugging $x=y=0$ into the original equation we get
    $f(f(0)) = f(2017)$. Taking $f$ of both sides yields
    $f(f(f(0))) = f(f(2017))$ which is $f(0)+c=2017+c$ so
    $f(0) = 2017$.



    Now take $f$ of both sides of the original equation to get
    $f(f(f(x)+y)) = f(x+f(y+2017))$
    which is
    $f(x)+y + c = f(x+f(y+2017))$
    Setting $y=-2017$ gives
    $$f(x)-2017 + c = f(x+f(0)) = f(x+2017)$$.



    Now we return again to the original equation with $y=1$. This gives
    $f(f(x)+1) = x+f(2018)$ which by the above formula is
    $x+f(1)-2017 + c$. So
    $$f(f(x)+1)-f(f(x)) = x+f(1)-2017+c - (x+c) = f(1)-2017$$



    Now, as $f(f(x)) = x+c$, $f(f(x))$, and thus $f(x)$, can attain all values in $mathbb{Z}$. So for any $kinmathbb{Z}$, there is an $xinmathbb{Z}$ such that $f(x)=k$, and so the above formula becomes
    $$f(k+1)-f(k) = f(1)-2017$$
    for all $kinmathbb{Z}$. So for all $kinmathbb{Z}$,
    $$f(k) = k+c_2$$
    for some $c_2$. So the original equation becomes
    $$x+y+2c_2=x+y+2017+c_2$$
    so $c_2=2017$. Thus the only solution is
    $$f(x) = x+2017$$






    share|cite|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Erik Parkinson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.


















    • (+1) nice! ${}{}$
      – TheSimpliFire
      yesterday
















    9














    Got it! I probably complicated it more than I had to so if anyone sees any way to simply this I would love to hear feedback.



    To solve this, let $y=0$ so that
    $f(f(x)) = x+f(2017)$.
    Let $c=f(2017)$. Then for all $xinmathbb{Z}$,
    $$f(f(x)) = x+c$$



    Now plugging $x=y=0$ into the original equation we get
    $f(f(0)) = f(2017)$. Taking $f$ of both sides yields
    $f(f(f(0))) = f(f(2017))$ which is $f(0)+c=2017+c$ so
    $f(0) = 2017$.



    Now take $f$ of both sides of the original equation to get
    $f(f(f(x)+y)) = f(x+f(y+2017))$
    which is
    $f(x)+y + c = f(x+f(y+2017))$
    Setting $y=-2017$ gives
    $$f(x)-2017 + c = f(x+f(0)) = f(x+2017)$$.



    Now we return again to the original equation with $y=1$. This gives
    $f(f(x)+1) = x+f(2018)$ which by the above formula is
    $x+f(1)-2017 + c$. So
    $$f(f(x)+1)-f(f(x)) = x+f(1)-2017+c - (x+c) = f(1)-2017$$



    Now, as $f(f(x)) = x+c$, $f(f(x))$, and thus $f(x)$, can attain all values in $mathbb{Z}$. So for any $kinmathbb{Z}$, there is an $xinmathbb{Z}$ such that $f(x)=k$, and so the above formula becomes
    $$f(k+1)-f(k) = f(1)-2017$$
    for all $kinmathbb{Z}$. So for all $kinmathbb{Z}$,
    $$f(k) = k+c_2$$
    for some $c_2$. So the original equation becomes
    $$x+y+2c_2=x+y+2017+c_2$$
    so $c_2=2017$. Thus the only solution is
    $$f(x) = x+2017$$






    share|cite|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Erik Parkinson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.


















    • (+1) nice! ${}{}$
      – TheSimpliFire
      yesterday














    9












    9








    9






    Got it! I probably complicated it more than I had to so if anyone sees any way to simply this I would love to hear feedback.



    To solve this, let $y=0$ so that
    $f(f(x)) = x+f(2017)$.
    Let $c=f(2017)$. Then for all $xinmathbb{Z}$,
    $$f(f(x)) = x+c$$



    Now plugging $x=y=0$ into the original equation we get
    $f(f(0)) = f(2017)$. Taking $f$ of both sides yields
    $f(f(f(0))) = f(f(2017))$ which is $f(0)+c=2017+c$ so
    $f(0) = 2017$.



    Now take $f$ of both sides of the original equation to get
    $f(f(f(x)+y)) = f(x+f(y+2017))$
    which is
    $f(x)+y + c = f(x+f(y+2017))$
    Setting $y=-2017$ gives
    $$f(x)-2017 + c = f(x+f(0)) = f(x+2017)$$.



    Now we return again to the original equation with $y=1$. This gives
    $f(f(x)+1) = x+f(2018)$ which by the above formula is
    $x+f(1)-2017 + c$. So
    $$f(f(x)+1)-f(f(x)) = x+f(1)-2017+c - (x+c) = f(1)-2017$$



    Now, as $f(f(x)) = x+c$, $f(f(x))$, and thus $f(x)$, can attain all values in $mathbb{Z}$. So for any $kinmathbb{Z}$, there is an $xinmathbb{Z}$ such that $f(x)=k$, and so the above formula becomes
    $$f(k+1)-f(k) = f(1)-2017$$
    for all $kinmathbb{Z}$. So for all $kinmathbb{Z}$,
    $$f(k) = k+c_2$$
    for some $c_2$. So the original equation becomes
    $$x+y+2c_2=x+y+2017+c_2$$
    so $c_2=2017$. Thus the only solution is
    $$f(x) = x+2017$$






    share|cite|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Erik Parkinson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.









    Got it! I probably complicated it more than I had to so if anyone sees any way to simply this I would love to hear feedback.



    To solve this, let $y=0$ so that
    $f(f(x)) = x+f(2017)$.
    Let $c=f(2017)$. Then for all $xinmathbb{Z}$,
    $$f(f(x)) = x+c$$



    Now plugging $x=y=0$ into the original equation we get
    $f(f(0)) = f(2017)$. Taking $f$ of both sides yields
    $f(f(f(0))) = f(f(2017))$ which is $f(0)+c=2017+c$ so
    $f(0) = 2017$.



    Now take $f$ of both sides of the original equation to get
    $f(f(f(x)+y)) = f(x+f(y+2017))$
    which is
    $f(x)+y + c = f(x+f(y+2017))$
    Setting $y=-2017$ gives
    $$f(x)-2017 + c = f(x+f(0)) = f(x+2017)$$.



    Now we return again to the original equation with $y=1$. This gives
    $f(f(x)+1) = x+f(2018)$ which by the above formula is
    $x+f(1)-2017 + c$. So
    $$f(f(x)+1)-f(f(x)) = x+f(1)-2017+c - (x+c) = f(1)-2017$$



    Now, as $f(f(x)) = x+c$, $f(f(x))$, and thus $f(x)$, can attain all values in $mathbb{Z}$. So for any $kinmathbb{Z}$, there is an $xinmathbb{Z}$ such that $f(x)=k$, and so the above formula becomes
    $$f(k+1)-f(k) = f(1)-2017$$
    for all $kinmathbb{Z}$. So for all $kinmathbb{Z}$,
    $$f(k) = k+c_2$$
    for some $c_2$. So the original equation becomes
    $$x+y+2c_2=x+y+2017+c_2$$
    so $c_2=2017$. Thus the only solution is
    $$f(x) = x+2017$$







    share|cite|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Erik Parkinson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.









    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer






    New contributor




    Erik Parkinson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.









    answered yesterday









    Erik Parkinson

    4626




    4626




    New contributor




    Erik Parkinson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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    New contributor





    Erik Parkinson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.






    Erik Parkinson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.












    • (+1) nice! ${}{}$
      – TheSimpliFire
      yesterday


















    • (+1) nice! ${}{}$
      – TheSimpliFire
      yesterday
















    (+1) nice! ${}{}$
    – TheSimpliFire
    yesterday




    (+1) nice! ${}{}$
    – TheSimpliFire
    yesterday











    2














    You could take $y=0$ there and get $f(f(x))=x+f(2017)=x+n$ where $n$ is a constant. Thus $f(f(x))$ is a linear function. You can observe (guess?) what $f(x)$ could be like here. If it is so, then you have no problem taking $f^{-1}$ and you can easily find $n$.



    The point is how to prove the nature of $f(x)$ if you know $f(f(x))$ is linear. This is an interesting problem. What is the square root (with integer values) of a linear function?



    Now here I'm not sure $f(x)$ will end up being a simple function involving only arithmetic operations, or a function also involving the modulo.






    share|cite|improve this answer










    New contributor




    Ferred is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.














    • 1




      This is better posted as a comment. As you don't yet have enough reputation for that, how about answering some other questions and come back? :)
      – TheSimpliFire
      yesterday


















    2














    You could take $y=0$ there and get $f(f(x))=x+f(2017)=x+n$ where $n$ is a constant. Thus $f(f(x))$ is a linear function. You can observe (guess?) what $f(x)$ could be like here. If it is so, then you have no problem taking $f^{-1}$ and you can easily find $n$.



    The point is how to prove the nature of $f(x)$ if you know $f(f(x))$ is linear. This is an interesting problem. What is the square root (with integer values) of a linear function?



    Now here I'm not sure $f(x)$ will end up being a simple function involving only arithmetic operations, or a function also involving the modulo.






    share|cite|improve this answer










    New contributor




    Ferred is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.














    • 1




      This is better posted as a comment. As you don't yet have enough reputation for that, how about answering some other questions and come back? :)
      – TheSimpliFire
      yesterday
















    2












    2








    2






    You could take $y=0$ there and get $f(f(x))=x+f(2017)=x+n$ where $n$ is a constant. Thus $f(f(x))$ is a linear function. You can observe (guess?) what $f(x)$ could be like here. If it is so, then you have no problem taking $f^{-1}$ and you can easily find $n$.



    The point is how to prove the nature of $f(x)$ if you know $f(f(x))$ is linear. This is an interesting problem. What is the square root (with integer values) of a linear function?



    Now here I'm not sure $f(x)$ will end up being a simple function involving only arithmetic operations, or a function also involving the modulo.






    share|cite|improve this answer










    New contributor




    Ferred is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.









    You could take $y=0$ there and get $f(f(x))=x+f(2017)=x+n$ where $n$ is a constant. Thus $f(f(x))$ is a linear function. You can observe (guess?) what $f(x)$ could be like here. If it is so, then you have no problem taking $f^{-1}$ and you can easily find $n$.



    The point is how to prove the nature of $f(x)$ if you know $f(f(x))$ is linear. This is an interesting problem. What is the square root (with integer values) of a linear function?



    Now here I'm not sure $f(x)$ will end up being a simple function involving only arithmetic operations, or a function also involving the modulo.







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    edited yesterday





















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    • 1




      This is better posted as a comment. As you don't yet have enough reputation for that, how about answering some other questions and come back? :)
      – TheSimpliFire
      yesterday
















    • 1




      This is better posted as a comment. As you don't yet have enough reputation for that, how about answering some other questions and come back? :)
      – TheSimpliFire
      yesterday










    1




    1




    This is better posted as a comment. As you don't yet have enough reputation for that, how about answering some other questions and come back? :)
    – TheSimpliFire
    yesterday






    This is better posted as a comment. As you don't yet have enough reputation for that, how about answering some other questions and come back? :)
    – TheSimpliFire
    yesterday













    2














    Let $n$ be an integer. Then at $f(x)=n$ and $y=0$, the equation $f(f(x)+y)=x+f(y+n)$ becomes $f(n+y)=f(y+n)+xBig|_{f(x)=n}$, so $f(0)=n$.



    Now at $f(x)=n+1$, we can derive similar relations, at $y=0$ and $y=-1$ respectively, $$xBig|_{f(x)=n+1}=f(n+1)-f(n)=f(n)-f(n-1)implies 2f(n)=f(n-1)+f(n+1).$$



    By induction it can be proven that $2f(n)=f(n-x)+f(n+x)$ or $2f(n)=f(x)+f(2n-x)$ for any integer $x$. Assuming differentiability, $f'(x)-f'(2n-x)=0$ so $f$ is either a linear or periodic function. It cannot be periodic because $f(0)=n$ and $xBig|_{f(x)=0}=f(n)-f(0)$.



    Thus $f$ is a linear function and putting it in $f(x)=ax+b$, gives us $b=n$ and $a=1$ since $f(f(x))=x+f(n)$.






    share|cite|improve this answer




























      2














      Let $n$ be an integer. Then at $f(x)=n$ and $y=0$, the equation $f(f(x)+y)=x+f(y+n)$ becomes $f(n+y)=f(y+n)+xBig|_{f(x)=n}$, so $f(0)=n$.



      Now at $f(x)=n+1$, we can derive similar relations, at $y=0$ and $y=-1$ respectively, $$xBig|_{f(x)=n+1}=f(n+1)-f(n)=f(n)-f(n-1)implies 2f(n)=f(n-1)+f(n+1).$$



      By induction it can be proven that $2f(n)=f(n-x)+f(n+x)$ or $2f(n)=f(x)+f(2n-x)$ for any integer $x$. Assuming differentiability, $f'(x)-f'(2n-x)=0$ so $f$ is either a linear or periodic function. It cannot be periodic because $f(0)=n$ and $xBig|_{f(x)=0}=f(n)-f(0)$.



      Thus $f$ is a linear function and putting it in $f(x)=ax+b$, gives us $b=n$ and $a=1$ since $f(f(x))=x+f(n)$.






      share|cite|improve this answer


























        2












        2








        2






        Let $n$ be an integer. Then at $f(x)=n$ and $y=0$, the equation $f(f(x)+y)=x+f(y+n)$ becomes $f(n+y)=f(y+n)+xBig|_{f(x)=n}$, so $f(0)=n$.



        Now at $f(x)=n+1$, we can derive similar relations, at $y=0$ and $y=-1$ respectively, $$xBig|_{f(x)=n+1}=f(n+1)-f(n)=f(n)-f(n-1)implies 2f(n)=f(n-1)+f(n+1).$$



        By induction it can be proven that $2f(n)=f(n-x)+f(n+x)$ or $2f(n)=f(x)+f(2n-x)$ for any integer $x$. Assuming differentiability, $f'(x)-f'(2n-x)=0$ so $f$ is either a linear or periodic function. It cannot be periodic because $f(0)=n$ and $xBig|_{f(x)=0}=f(n)-f(0)$.



        Thus $f$ is a linear function and putting it in $f(x)=ax+b$, gives us $b=n$ and $a=1$ since $f(f(x))=x+f(n)$.






        share|cite|improve this answer














        Let $n$ be an integer. Then at $f(x)=n$ and $y=0$, the equation $f(f(x)+y)=x+f(y+n)$ becomes $f(n+y)=f(y+n)+xBig|_{f(x)=n}$, so $f(0)=n$.



        Now at $f(x)=n+1$, we can derive similar relations, at $y=0$ and $y=-1$ respectively, $$xBig|_{f(x)=n+1}=f(n+1)-f(n)=f(n)-f(n-1)implies 2f(n)=f(n-1)+f(n+1).$$



        By induction it can be proven that $2f(n)=f(n-x)+f(n+x)$ or $2f(n)=f(x)+f(2n-x)$ for any integer $x$. Assuming differentiability, $f'(x)-f'(2n-x)=0$ so $f$ is either a linear or periodic function. It cannot be periodic because $f(0)=n$ and $xBig|_{f(x)=0}=f(n)-f(0)$.



        Thus $f$ is a linear function and putting it in $f(x)=ax+b$, gives us $b=n$ and $a=1$ since $f(f(x))=x+f(n)$.







        share|cite|improve this answer














        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer








        edited 22 hours ago

























        answered yesterday









        TheSimpliFire

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