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k a May Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
May 1, 2025
May is an exciting month! National MATHCOUNTS is the second week of May in Washington D.C. and our Founder, Richard Rusczyk will be presenting a seminar, Preparing Strong Math Students for College and Careers, on May 11th.

Are you interested in working towards MATHCOUNTS and don’t know where to start? We have you covered! If you have taken Prealgebra, then you are ready for MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics. Already aiming for State or National MATHCOUNTS and harder AMC 8 problems? Then our MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced course is for you.

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[*]May 21st, 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Mathcamp 2025 Qualifying Quiz Part 2 Math Jam, Problems 5 and 6, Canada/USA Mathcamp staff will discuss solutions to Problems 5 and 6 of the 2025 Mathcamp Qualifying Quiz![/list]
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0 replies
jlacosta
May 1, 2025
0 replies
k i Adding contests to the Contest Collections
dcouchman   1
N Apr 5, 2023 by v_Enhance
Want to help AoPS remain a valuable Olympiad resource? Help us add contests to AoPS's Contest Collections.

Find instructions and a list of contests to add here: https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c40244h1064480_contests_to_add
1 reply
dcouchman
Sep 9, 2019
v_Enhance
Apr 5, 2023
k i Zero tolerance
ZetaX   49
N May 4, 2019 by NoDealsHere
Source: Use your common sense! (enough is enough)
Some users don't want to learn, some other simply ignore advises.
But please follow the following guideline:


To make it short: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!
If you don't have common sense, don't post.


More specifically:

For new threads:


a) Good, meaningful title:
The title has to say what the problem is about in best way possible.
If that title occured already, it's definitely bad. And contest names aren't good either.
That's in fact a requirement for being able to search old problems.

Examples:
Bad titles:
- "Hard"/"Medium"/"Easy" (if you find it so cool how hard/easy it is, tell it in the post and use a title that tells us the problem)
- "Number Theory" (hey guy, guess why this forum's named that way¿ and is it the only such problem on earth¿)
- "Fibonacci" (there are millions of Fibonacci problems out there, all posted and named the same...)
- "Chinese TST 2003" (does this say anything about the problem¿)
Good titles:
- "On divisors of a³+2b³+4c³-6abc"
- "Number of solutions to x²+y²=6z²"
- "Fibonacci numbers are never squares"


b) Use search function:
Before posting a "new" problem spend at least two, better five, minutes to look if this problem was posted before. If it was, don't repost it. If you have anything important to say on topic, post it in one of the older threads.
If the thread is locked cause of this, use search function.

Update (by Amir Hossein). The best way to search for two keywords in AoPS is to input
[code]+"first keyword" +"second keyword"[/code]
so that any post containing both strings "first word" and "second form".


c) Good problem statement:
Some recent really bad post was:
[quote]$lim_{n\to 1}^{+\infty}\frac{1}{n}-lnn$[/quote]
It contains no question and no answer.
If you do this, too, you are on the best way to get your thread deleted. Write everything clearly, define where your variables come from (and define the "natural" numbers if used). Additionally read your post at least twice before submitting. After you sent it, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.


For answers to already existing threads:


d) Of any interest and with content:
Don't post things that are more trivial than completely obvious. For example, if the question is to solve $x^{3}+y^{3}=z^{3}$, do not answer with "$x=y=z=0$ is a solution" only. Either you post any kind of proof or at least something unexpected (like "$x=1337, y=481, z=42$ is the smallest solution). Someone that does not see that $x=y=z=0$ is a solution of the above without your post is completely wrong here, this is an IMO-level forum.
Similar, posting "I have solved this problem" but not posting anything else is not welcome; it even looks that you just want to show off what a genius you are.

e) Well written and checked answers:
Like c) for new threads, check your solutions at least twice for mistakes. And after sending, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.



To repeat it: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!


Everything definitely out of range of common sense will be locked or deleted (exept for new users having less than about 42 posts, they are newbies and need/get some time to learn).

The above rules will be applied from next monday (5. march of 2007).
Feel free to discuss on this here.
49 replies
ZetaX
Feb 27, 2007
NoDealsHere
May 4, 2019
Labelling edges of Kn
oVlad   1
N 31 minutes ago by TopGbulliedU
Source: Romania Junior TST 2025 Day 2 P3
Let $n\geqslant 3$ be an integer. Ion draws a regular $n$-gon and all its diagonals. On every diagonal and edge, Ion writes a positive integer, such that for any triangle formed with the vertices of the $n$-gon, one of the numbers on its edges is the sum of the two other numbers on its edges. Determine the smallest possible number of distinct values that Ion can write.
1 reply
oVlad
May 6, 2025
TopGbulliedU
31 minutes ago
c^a + a = 2^b
Havu   8
N 43 minutes ago by MathematicalArceus
Find $a, b, c\in\mathbb{Z}^+$ such that $a,b,c$ coprime, $a + b = 2c$ and $c^a + a = 2^b$.
8 replies
Havu
May 10, 2025
MathematicalArceus
43 minutes ago
Concurrence of lines defined by intersections of circles
Lukaluce   1
N 44 minutes ago by sarjinius
Source: 2025 Macedonian Balkan Math Olympiad TST Problem 2
Let $\triangle ABC$ be an acute-angled triangle and $A_1, B_1$, and $C_1$ be the feet of the altitudes from $A, B$, and $C$, respectively. On the rays $AA_1, BB_1$, and $CC_1$, we have points $A_2, B_2$, and $C_2$ respectively, lying outside of $\triangle ABC$, such that
\[\frac{A_1A_2}{AA_1} = \frac{B_1B_2}{BB_1} = \frac{C_1C_2}{CC_1}.\]If the intersections of $B_1C_2$ and $B_2C_1$, $C_1A_2$ and $C_2A_1$, and $A_1B_2$ and $A_2B_1$ are $A', B'$, and $C'$ respectively, prove that $AA', BB'$, and $CC'$ have a common point.
1 reply
Lukaluce
Apr 14, 2025
sarjinius
44 minutes ago
Factorial Divisibility
Aryan-23   45
N 44 minutes ago by MathematicalArceus
Source: IMO SL 2022 N2
Find all positive integers $n>2$ such that
$$ n! \mid \prod_{ p<q\le n, p,q \, \text{primes}} (p+q)$$
45 replies
Aryan-23
Jul 9, 2023
MathematicalArceus
44 minutes ago
Multiple of multinomial coefficient is an integer
orl   14
N an hour ago by mickeymouse7133
Source: Romanian Master in Mathematics 2009, Problem 1
For $ a_i \in \mathbb{Z}^ +$, $ i = 1, \ldots, k$, and $ n = \sum^k_{i = 1} a_i$, let $ d = \gcd(a_1, \ldots, a_k)$ denote the greatest common divisor of $ a_1, \ldots, a_k$.
Prove that $ \frac {d} {n} \cdot \frac {n!}{\prod\limits^k_{i = 1} (a_i!)}$ is an integer.

Dan Schwarz, Romania
14 replies
orl
Mar 7, 2009
mickeymouse7133
an hour ago
Functional Equation from IMO
prtoi   1
N an hour ago by KAME06
Source: IMO
Question: $f(2a)+2f(b)=f(f(a+b))$
Solve for f:Z-->Z
My solution:
At a=0, $f(0)+2f(b)=f(f(b))$
Take t=f(b) to get $f(0)+2t=f(t)$
Therefore, f(x)=2x+n where n=f(0)
Could someone please clarify if this is right or wrong?
1 reply
prtoi
an hour ago
KAME06
an hour ago
can you solve this..?
Jackson0423   1
N an hour ago by GreekIdiot
Source: Own

Find the number of integer pairs \( (x, y) \) satisfying the equation
\[ 4x^2 - 3y^2 = 1 \]such that \( |x| \leq 2025 \).
1 reply
Jackson0423
May 8, 2025
GreekIdiot
an hour ago
Gergonne point Harmonic quadrilateral
niwobin   0
an hour ago
Triangle ABC has incircle touching the sides at D, E, F as shown.
AD, BE, CF concurrent at Gergonne point G.
BG and CG cuts the incircle at X and Y, respectively.
AG cuts the incircle at K.
Prove: K, X, D, Y form a harmonic quadrilateral. (KX/KY = DX/DY)
0 replies
niwobin
an hour ago
0 replies
Combi that will make you question every choice in your life so far
blug   1
N 2 hours ago by HotSinglesInYourArea
$A$ and $B$ are standing in front of the room in which there is $C$. They know that there is a chessboard in the room and that on every square there is a coin. Every coin is black on one side and white on the other side and is flipped randomly. $A$ enters the room and then $C$ points at exactly one square on the chessboard. After that, $A$ must flip exactly one coin of his choice on the chessboard to the other side and leave. Finally, $B$ enters the room ($A$ and $B$ haven't met again after $A$ entered the room) and he has to guess which square did $C$ point at.
What strategy do $A$ and $B$ have that will make this happen every time?
1 reply
blug
3 hours ago
HotSinglesInYourArea
2 hours ago
Functional equation
Pmshw   17
N 2 hours ago by arzhang2001
Source: Iran 2nd round 2022 P2
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that for any real value of $x,y$ we have:
$$f(xf(y)+f(x)+y)=xy+f(x)+f(y)$$
17 replies
Pmshw
May 8, 2022
arzhang2001
2 hours ago
Hard Geometry
Jalil_Huseynov   3
N 2 hours ago by bin_sherlo
Source: DGO 2021, Individual stage, Day1 P3
Let triangle $ABC$ be a triangle with incenter $I$ and circumcircle $\Omega$ with circumcenter $O$. The incircle touches $CA, AB$ at $E, F$ respectively. $R$ is another intersection point of external bisector of $\angle BAC$ with $\Omega$, and $T$ is $\text{A-mixtillinear}$ incircle touch point to $\Omega$. Let $W, X, Z$ be points lie on $\Omega$. $RX$ intersect $AI$ at $Y$ . Assume that $R \ne X$. Suppose that $E, F, X, Y$ and $W, Z, E, F$ are concyclic, and $AZ, EF, RX$ are concurrent.
Prove that
$\bullet$ $AZ, RW, OI$ are concurrent.
$\bullet$ $\text{A-symmedian}$, tangent line to $\Omega$ at $T$ and $WZ$ are concurrent.

Proporsed by wassupevery1 and k12byda5h
3 replies
Jalil_Huseynov
Dec 26, 2021
bin_sherlo
2 hours ago
Algebra form IMO Shortlist
Abbas11235   35
N 2 hours ago by ezpotd
Source: IMO Shortlist 2017 A2
Let $q$ be a real number. Gugu has a napkin with ten distinct real numbers written on it, and he writes the following three lines of real numbers on the blackboard:
[list]
[*]In the first line, Gugu writes down every number of the form $a-b$, where $a$ and $b$ are two (not necessarily distinct) numbers on his napkin.
[*]In the second line, Gugu writes down every number of the form $qab$, where $a$ and $b$ are
two (not necessarily distinct) numbers from the first line.
[*]In the third line, Gugu writes down every number of the form $a^2+b^2-c^2-d^2$, where $a, b, c, d$ are four (not necessarily distinct) numbers from the first line.
[/list]
Determine all values of $q$ such that, regardless of the numbers on Gugu's napkin, every number in the second line is also a number in the third line.
35 replies
Abbas11235
Jul 10, 2018
ezpotd
2 hours ago
Number theory
EeEeRUT   3
N 2 hours ago by IAmTheHazard
Source: Thailand MO 2025 P10
Let $n$ be a positive integer. Show that there exist a polynomial $P(x)$ with integer coefficient that satisfy the following
[list]
[*]Degree of $P(x)$ is at most $2^n - n -1$
[*]$|P(k)| = (k-1)!(2^n-k)!$ for each $k \in \{1,2,3,\dots,2^n\}$
[/list]
3 replies
EeEeRUT
May 14, 2025
IAmTheHazard
2 hours ago
3 var inequality
SunnyEvan   4
N 3 hours ago by JARP091
Let $ a,b,c \in R $ ,such that $ a^2+b^2+c^2=4(ab+bc+ca)$Prove that :$$ \frac{53}{2}-9\sqrt{14} \leq \frac{8(a^3b+b^3c+c^3a)}{27(a^2+b^2+c^2)^2} \leq \frac{53}{2}+9\sqrt{14} $$
4 replies
SunnyEvan
Today at 1:05 PM
JARP091
3 hours ago
Integer-Valued FE comes again
lminsl   207
N May 8, 2025 by NerdyNashville
Source: IMO 2019 Problem 1
Let $\mathbb{Z}$ be the set of integers. Determine all functions $f: \mathbb{Z} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}$ such that, for all integers $a$ and $b$, $$f(2a)+2f(b)=f(f(a+b)).$$Proposed by Liam Baker, South Africa
207 replies
lminsl
Jul 16, 2019
NerdyNashville
May 8, 2025
Integer-Valued FE comes again
G H J
Source: IMO 2019 Problem 1
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ihatemath123
3448 posts
#232
Y by
The solutions are $f(x) = 2x+C$ for some integer constant $C$ and $f(x) = 0$.

Taking $P(0,a)$ gives us that $f(f(a)) = f(0) + 2f(a)$. Substituting this for the RHS of the given equation, we have that
\[f(2a)+2f(b) = f(0) + 2f(a+b).\]Setting $a=b$ in the equation above gives us that $f(2a) = 2f(a) - f(0)$ – substituting that into the above equation gives us
\[f(a)+f(b) = f(0) + f(a+b),\]which means that $f(x)-f(0)$ satisfies Cauchy's equation – therefore, $f(x)$ is linear. Plugging this in gives us the claimed solutions.
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ezpotd
1276 posts
#233
Y by
I claim the only solutions are $f(x) = 2x + c$ for all positive integers $c$. It is trivial to verify these all work.

Let $P(a,b)$ be the assertion, then we take $P(a,b), P(b,a)$ and subtract to get $f(2a) - f(2b) = 2f(a) - 2f(b) $, setting $b = 0$ gives $f(2a) = 2f(a) - f(0)$. We can then write $2f(a) + 2f(b) = f(f(a + b)) + f(0)$. So we have $f(a)  + f(b) = f(a + 1) + f(b -1)$ for $a + b =a  + 1 + b - 1$, so we can write $f(a + 1) - f(a ) = f(b) - f(b - 1)$ . Thus $f$ is linear, since all consecutive differences are equal. Plugging in $f(x) = kx + c$ gives $2k(a + b) + 3c = k^2(a + b) + kc + c$, forcing $k = 2$, so we are done.
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Siddharthmaybe
115 posts
#234
Y by
lminsl wrote:
The answer is $f \equiv 0$ or $f(x)=2x+c$ for some constant $c$.
Since these are the only linear solutions, proving that $f$ is linear kills the problem.

Putting $a=0$ gives $$f(f(b))=2f(b)+f(0)$$, or for every $y$ in the image of $f$, $f(y)=2y+f(0)$.
Hence, $$2f(a+b)+f(0)=f(f(a+b))=f(2a)+2f(b).$$A simple variable-switching and some translation gives the well-known Cauchy equation. Hence $f$ is linear.

Hmm same solution , I messed up the translation part oof :(.
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cubres
119 posts
#235
Y by
Storage - grinding IMO problems
Z K Y
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smileapple
1010 posts
#236
Y by
Let $P(a,b)$ be the given relation. Comparing $P(n,n+m)$ and $P(m,2n)$, we obtain $2f(m+n)=f(2m)+f(2n)$ for all $m,n\in\mathbb{Z}$. Call this relation $Q(m,n)$.

Plugging in $Q(k-1,k+1)$ yields $f(2k+2)=2f(2k)-f(2k-2)$, so $f$ is linear over the even integers. Plugging in $Q(k,0)$ yields $2f(k)=f(2k)+f(0)$, so $f$ is linear over $\mathbb{Z}$. By inspection it follows that $f$ is either the zero function or $f=2x+c$ for all $x$, where $c$ is a fixed constant independent of $x$. $\blacksquare$
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eg4334
637 posts
#237
Y by
Let $P(a, b)$ be the assertion. Obviously $f(x) \equiv \boxed{0, 2x+c}$ are the only linear solutions. Compare $P(a, b)$ and $P(b, a)$ to get that $f(2x)-2f(x)$ is constant and obviosly $-f(0)$. Now compare $P(0, a+b)$ and $P(a, b)$ to get $f(2a)+2f(b)=f(0)+2f(a+b)$. Use $f(2x)=2f(x)-f(0)$ to get $2f(a)-f(0)+2f(b)=f(0)+2f(a+b) \implies f(a)+f(b)=f(0)+f(a+b)$. Let $b=1$ to show that it is indeed linear which finishes.
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Maximilian113
575 posts
#238
Y by
Let $P(a, b)$ denote the assertion. $P(0, a) \implies f(f(a)) = 2f(a)+f(0),$ while $P(a, 0) \implies f(2a)+2f(0)=f(f(a)) = 2f(a)+f(0) \implies f(2a)=2f(a)-f(0).$ Therefore the assertion becomes $$f(a)+f(b)=f(0)+f(a+b),$$so the function $g(x)=f(x)-f(0)$ is additive and by Cauchy's Functional Equation we have $g(x)=px,$ thus $f(x)=px+q$ for integer constants $p, q.$ Plugging this back into the assertion yields either $f(x)=0$ or $f(x)=2x+k$ for some constant $k \in \mathbb Z.$ These are the only solutions, and it is not hard to see that these work.
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blueprimes
355 posts
#239
Y by
We claim the answer is $f(x) \equiv 0$ or $f(x) \equiv 2x + c$ for any constant $c$. Clearly they work, now we show they are the only ones. Consider assertions $(a, b) = (x, 0), (0, x)$, we have $f(2x)  = 2 f(x) - f(0)$, so we can simplify the relation to
\[2 f(a) + 2 f(b) = f(f(a + b)) + f(0). \]Now asserting $(a, b) = (x, -x)$ gives us $2f(-x) = -2f(x) + f(f(0)) + f(0)$, and $(a, b) = (x + 1, -x)$ yields
\[ 2 f(x + 1) + 2f(-x) = 2 f(x + 1) - 2 f(x) + f(f(0)) + f(0) = f(f(1)) + f(0) \]\[\implies f(x + 1) - f(x) = \dfrac{f(f(1)) - f(f(0))}{2}. \]Since the RHS is constant, $f$ is linear. Plugging back into the equation it is easy to extract $f(x) \equiv 0, 2x + c$ as our claimed solution set. We are done.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by blueprimes, Feb 25, 2025, 10:42 PM
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Marcus_Zhang
980 posts
#240
Y by
Easy for an IMO, IMO
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Nari_Tom
117 posts
#241
Y by
I need write down my solution for some reason.
By symmetry we have $2f(a)-f(2a)=const=f(0)$.
So we have: $2f(a)+2f(b)=f(f(a+b))+f(0)$,
if we take $b=0$ here we will get that $f(f(a))=2f(a)+f(0)$.
Combining last two gives: $f(a)+f(b)=f(a+b)+f(0)$.
Let's define $g(x)=f(x)-f(0)$, then our equation is equivalent to $g(a)+g(b)=g(a+b)$ whose solution is only $g(a)=ag(1)$.
We can find solutions by substituting in the original equation. By the way solutions are only: $f(a)=2a+n$, where $n$ is constant or $f(a)=0$.
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ehuseyinyigit
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#242
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$P(1,0)$ and $P(0,1)$ gives $f(2)+f(0)=2f(1) \quad (*)$.
$P(1,x)$ gives $f(f(x+1))=f(2)+2f(x)$
$P(0,x+1)$ gives $f(f(x+1))=f(0)+2f(x+1)$
Combining these implies
$$f(2)+2f(x)=f(0)+2f(x+1)$$$$2(f(x+1)-f(x))=f(2)-f(0)\overbrace{=}^{*}2(f(1)-f(0))$$Thus, $f$ is linear. Using linearity and $P(0,0)$ implies the only solutions are $f(a)=0$ or $f(a)=2a+c$ where $c$ is a constant.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by ehuseyinyigit, Mar 26, 2025, 7:38 PM
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Sedro
5850 posts
#243
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The solutions are $f\equiv 0$ and $f\equiv 2x+\ell$, where $\ell$ is any integer. It is straightforward to check that these functions are indeed solutions, so now we prove that they are the only ones. Let $P(a,b)$ denote the assertion.

By $P(0,x)$, we have $f(f(x)) = 2f(x)+f(0)$, so $P(a,b)$ can be rewritten as $f(2a)+2f(b) = 2f(a+b)+f(0)$. Let $Q(a,b)$ denote this assertion. By $Q(x,0)$, we have $f(2x) = 2f(x) - f(0)$, so $Q(a,b)$ can be rewritten as $2f(a)+2f(b) = 2f(a+b)+2f(0)$. Thus, $f(x)-f(0)$ is Cauchy; hence $f$ is linear.

Letting $f(x) = kx+\ell$, by $P(a,b)$, we must have \[2k(a+b)+3\ell = k^2(a+b) + \ell(k+1).\]This implies $2k=k^2$ and $3\ell = \ell(k+1)$, or $(k,\ell) = (0,0), (2,\ell)$, as desired. $\blacksquare$
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Ilikeminecraft
656 posts
#244
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I claim that $f(x) = 0$ or $f(x) = 2x + c$ for some constant $c \in \mathbb Z.$

First, we have that $f(2a) + 2f(b) = f(f(a + b)) = f(f(b - a + 2a)) = f(2(b - a)) + 2f(2a),$ and thus we have that $f(2x) + f(2y) = 2f(x + y).$ Plugging in $x = 0,$ we see that $f(2y) = 2f(y),$ and thus our equation simplifies to $f(x) + f(y) = f(x + y).$ The solution to this is all linear equations, $f(x) = nx + m$. However, by plugging it into our original equation, we see that only our claimed solutions are valid.
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anudeep
199 posts
#245
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We claim that either $f\equiv 0$ or is of the form $f(x)=2x+c$ for some fixed integer $c$.
Replacing $a$ with $0$ and $b$ with $a+b$ in the given equation we obtain the following,
$$f(2a)+2f(b) =f\circ f(a+b)=f(0)+2f(a+b).$$Let us shift things to the origin by defining a new function $g(x)=f(x)-f(0)$ for all integers $x$ just to keep things cleaner. So we may rewrite the above equation in terms of $g$ as,
$$g(2a)+2g(b)=2g(a+b).$$This equation is quite easy to deal with and I can think of two ideas one could use
  • Cauchy's Functional Equation.
  • Finite Differences or Telescoping idea.
As the former idea has already been mentioned a lot of times in this thread, I shall stick to the latter one. Replacing $a$ with $1$ and $b$ with $n$ we get,
\begin{align*}
g(2)&=2\sum_{k:2\to n}\Delta g(k)\\
&=\cfrac{2(g(n+1)-g(2))}{n-2}.
\end{align*}Notice the above holds for positive integers but one can deal with negative integers in a similar manner. So clearly $g$ is linear and so is $f$ and one can easily check why $f$ has to of the form we had initially claimed and we are done. $\square$
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by anudeep, Apr 29, 2025, 3:42 PM
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NerdyNashville
15 posts
#246
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Answer
Solution
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