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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.

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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
Urgent. Need them quick
sealight2107   0
8 minutes ago
With $a,b,c>1$ and $a+b+c=2abc$. Prove that:
$\sqrt[3]{ab-1}+\sqrt[3]{bc-1}+\sqrt[3]{ca-1} \le \sqrt[3]{(a+b+c)^2}$
0 replies
sealight2107
8 minutes ago
0 replies
m^4+3^m is a perfect square number
Havu   1
N 16 minutes ago by Soupboy0
Find a positive integer m such that $m^4+3^m$ is a perfect square number.
1 reply
Havu
17 minutes ago
Soupboy0
16 minutes ago
Divisibility..
Sadigly   3
N 23 minutes ago by Jackson0423
Source: Azerbaijan Junior MO 2025 P2
Find all $4$ consecutive even numbers, such that the square of their product is divisible by the sum of their squares.
3 replies
Sadigly
Today at 7:37 AM
Jackson0423
23 minutes ago
Divisibilty...
Sadigly   9
N 32 minutes ago by Jackson0423
Source: My (fake) translation error
Find all $4$ consecutive even numbers, such that the square of their product divides the sum of their squares.
9 replies
Sadigly
an hour ago
Jackson0423
32 minutes ago
Inspired by Kosovo 2010
sqing   1
N 33 minutes ago by ytChen
Source: Own
Let $ a,b>0  , a+b\leq k $. Prove that
$$\left(1+\frac{1}{a(b+1)}\right)\left(1+\frac{1}{b(a+1)}\right)\geq\left(1+\frac{4}{k(k+2)}\right)^2$$$$\left(1+\frac {a}{b(a+1)}\right)\left(1+\frac {b}{a(b+1)}\right) \geq\left(1+\frac{2}{k+2}\right)^2$$Let $ a,b>0  , a+b\leq 2 $. Prove that
$$\left(1+\frac{1}{a(b+1)}\right)\left(1+\frac{1}{b(a+1)}\right)\geq \frac{9}{4} $$$$\left(1+\frac {a}{b(a+1)}\right)\left(1+\frac {b}{a(b+1)}\right) \geq \frac{9}{4} $$
1 reply
sqing
Today at 3:56 AM
ytChen
33 minutes ago
how can I solve this FE
Jackson0423   5
N 34 minutes ago by Jackson0423

Let \( f : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R} \) be a function that satisfies the following equation for all real numbers \( x \):
\[
f(x^2 + x + 3) + 2f(x^2 - 3x + 5) = 6x^2 - 10x + 17.
\]Find the value of \( f(100) \).
5 replies
Jackson0423
an hour ago
Jackson0423
34 minutes ago
Number Theory
VicKmath7   5
N 39 minutes ago by Adywastaken
Source: Archimedes Junior 2014
Let $p$ prime and $m$ a positive integer. Determine all pairs $( p,m)$ satisfying the equation: $ p(p+m)+p=(m+1)^3$
5 replies
VicKmath7
Mar 17, 2020
Adywastaken
39 minutes ago
x+y in B iff x,y in A
fattypiggy123   5
N 43 minutes ago by Math2030
Source: China Mathematical Olympiad 2015 Q3
Let $n \geq 5$ be a positive integer and let $A$ and $B$ be sets of integers satisfying the following conditions:

i) $|A| = n$, $|B| = m$ and $A$ is a subset of $B$
ii) For any distinct $x,y \in B$, $x+y \in B$ iff $x,y \in A$

Determine the minimum value of $m$.
5 replies
fattypiggy123
Dec 20, 2014
Math2030
43 minutes ago
IMO Genre Predictions
ohiorizzler1434   65
N an hour ago by Oksutok
Everybody, with IMO upcoming, what are you predictions for the problem genres?


Personally I predict: predict
65 replies
ohiorizzler1434
May 3, 2025
Oksutok
an hour ago
k^2/p for k =1 to (p-1)/2
truongphatt2668   1
N an hour ago by Double07
Let $p$ be a prime such that: $p = 4k+1$. Simplify:
$$\sum_{k=1}^{\frac{p-1}{2}}\begin{Bmatrix}\dfrac{k^2}{p}\end{Bmatrix}$$
1 reply
truongphatt2668
3 hours ago
Double07
an hour ago
Interesting inequality
imnotgoodatmathsorry   1
N an hour ago by Bergo1305
Let $x,y,z > \frac{1}{2}$ and $x+y+z=3$.Prove that:
$\sqrt{x^3+y^3+3xy-1}+\sqrt{y^3+z^3+3yz-1}+\sqrt{z^3+x^3+3zx-1}+\frac{1}{4}(x+5)(y+5)(z+5) \le 60$
1 reply
1 viewing
imnotgoodatmathsorry
2 hours ago
Bergo1305
an hour ago
every lucky set of values {a_1,a_2,..,a_n} satisfies a_1+a_2+...+a_n >n2^{n-1}
parmenides51   6
N an hour ago by jonh_malkovich
Source: 2020 International Olympiad of Metropolises P3
Let $n>1$ be a given integer. The Mint issues coins of $n$ different values $a_1, a_2, ..., a_n$, where each $a_i$ is a positive integer (the number of coins of each value is unlimited). A set of values $\{a_1, a_2,..., a_n\}$ is called lucky, if the sum $a_1+ a_2+...+ a_n$ can be collected in a unique way (namely, by taking one coin of each value).
(a) Prove that there exists a lucky set of values $\{a_1, a_2, ..., a_n\}$ with $$a_1+ a_2+...+ a_n < n \cdot 2^n.$$(b) Prove that every lucky set of values $\{a_1, a_2,..., a_n\}$ satisfies $$a_1+ a_2+...+ a_n >n \cdot 2^{n-1}.$$
Proposed by Ilya Bogdanov
6 replies
parmenides51
Dec 19, 2020
jonh_malkovich
an hour ago
A strange NT problem
flower417477   0
an hour ago
Source: unknown
$p$ is a given prime number.$A=\{a_1,a_2,\cdots,a_{p-1}\}$ is a set which $\prod\limits_{i=1}^{p-1}a_i\equiv\frac{p-1}{2}\pmod p$.
Prove that there're at least $\frac{p-1}{2}$ non-empty subsets $B$ of $A$ such that $\sum\limits_{b\in B}b\equiv 1\pmod p$
0 replies
flower417477
an hour ago
0 replies
combi/nt
blug   0
an hour ago
Prove that every positive integer $n$ can be written in the form
$$n=2^{a_1}3^{b_1}+2^{a_2}3^{b_2}+..., $$where $a_i, b_j$ are non negative integers, such that
$$2^x3^y\nmid 2^z3^t$$for every $x, y, z, t$.
0 replies
blug
an hour ago
0 replies
USAMO 2002 Problem 4
MithsApprentice   90
N Apr 25, 2025 by Ilikeminecraft
Let $\mathbb{R}$ be the set of real numbers. Determine all functions $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ such that \[ f(x^2 - y^2) = x f(x) - y f(y)  \] for all pairs of real numbers $x$ and $y$.
90 replies
MithsApprentice
Sep 30, 2005
Ilikeminecraft
Apr 25, 2025
USAMO 2002 Problem 4
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
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KevinYang2.71
427 posts
#80 • 1 Y
Y by Orthogonal.
Solved with Orthogonal..

We claim the only functions are $\boxed{f(x)\equiv cx}$ for $c\in\mathbb{R}$. It is easy to check that these work.

Let $P(x,y)$ denote the given assertion. $P(0,0)$ gives $f(0)=0$ and $P(x,0)$ gives $f(x^2)=xf(x)$. From $P(x,x)$ we get $f(x)=-f(-x)$. Thus $P(x,y)$ becomes $f(x^2-y^2)=f(x^2)+f(-y^2)$. It follows that
\[
f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \forall(x,y)\in\mathbb{R}^+\times\mathbb{R}^-.\tag{*}
\]
Claim. We have $f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)$ for all $x,y\in\mathbb{R}$.

Proof. If $x$ and $y$ are both positive, $f(x+y)-f(x)=f(x+y)+f(-x)=f(y)$ so we are done. If exactly one of $x$ and $y$ are positive, we are done by $(*)$. If $x$ and $y$ are both negative,
\[
f(x+y)=-f(-x-y)=-f(-x)-f(-y)=f(x)+f(y)
\]by case $1$ so we are done. $\square$

Now
\begin{align*}
xf(x)+xf(1)+f(x)+f(1)&=(x+1)f(x+1)\\
&=f((x+1)^2)\\
&=f(x^2+2x+1)\\
&=xf(x)+2f(x)+f(1)
\end{align*}so $f(x)=f(1)x$, as desired. $\square$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by KevinYang2.71, May 1, 2024, 6:01 PM
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Jndd
1416 posts
#81
Y by
We claim that the solutions are $f(x)=cx$ for any constant $c$, and it's easy to see that this satisfies the equation.

Plugging in $y=0$, we get $f(x^2)=xf(x)$, and plugging in $x=0$, we get $f(-y^2)=-yf(y)$. From this, we get $f(-x^2)=-xf(x)=-f(x^2)$, giving $-f(x)=f(-x)$.

Now, using the first two equations we got by plugging in $x=0$ and then $y=0$, we get $f(x^2-y^2)=f(x^2)-f(y^2)$, which further becomes $f(x^2-y^2)=f(x^2)+f(-y^2)$ since $-f(x)=f(-x)$. This implies that if $x\geq 0, y\leq 0$ or $x\leq 0, y\geq 0$, we have $f(x)+f(y)=f(x+y)$.

However, we can also get $f(x^2-y^2)+f(y^2)=f(x^2)$, and setting $x>y$ gives us that $f(x)+f(y)=f(x+y)$ also holds true when both $x,y\geq 0$. Finally, by negating everything and using $-f(x)=f(-x)$, this also holds true when both $x,y\leq 0$. Hence, $f$ satisfies Cauchy.

Then, we plug in $x+1$ into $f(x^2)=xf(x)$ and use the fact that $f$ satisfies Cauchy to get \[f((x+1)^2)=f(x^2)+f(x)+f(x+1)=(x+1)f(x+1)=xf(x)+xf(1)+f(x)+f(1),\]and by using $f(x^2)=xf(x)$, we can cancel things to get $f(x+1)=f(1)(x+1)$, giving $f(x)=cx$ where $c=f(1)$.
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Markas
105 posts
#82
Y by
We will show that the answer is $f(x) = cx$. These work since $(x^2 - y^2).c = x.cx - y.cy$. Now we need to show these are the only solutions. Let x = 0, we get $f(-y^2) = -yf(y)$. Let y = 0, we get $f(x^2) = xf(x)$. By these two we get that f is odd and also that $f(0) = 0$. So now using what we got we can write the starting equation as $f(x^2 - y^2) + f(y^2) = f(x^2)$. Using this and the fact that f is odd we get that f is additive. Now plugging in x = x + 1 in $f(x^2) = xf(x)$ and using that f is additive we get $f((x+1)^2 ) = (x+1)f(x+1)$ $\Rightarrow$ $f(x^2 + 2x + 1) = f(x^2) + 2f(x) + f(1) = (x+1)f(x) + (x+1)f(1)$ which after clearing things up gives us that $f(x) = f(1)x = cx$ $\Rightarrow$ there are no other solutions and we are ready.
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fearsum_fyz
52 posts
#83 • 2 Y
Y by alexanderhamilton124, poirasss
We claim that the only solution is $\boxed{f(x) = cx}$ for some constant $c$. It is easy to verify that this satisfies the given condition. Now we will prove that it is the only solution.

$\underline{P}(x, x) \implies \boxed{f(0) = 0}$
$\underline{P}(x, y) - \underline{P}(y, x) \implies f(y^2 - x^2) = - f(x^2 - y^2) \implies \boxed{f \text{ is odd}}$.

$\underline{P}(x, 0) \implies \boxed{f(x^2) = x f(x)}$
$\implies f(x^2 - y^2) = f(x^2) - f(y^2)$
$\implies \boxed{f(x - y) = f(x) - f(y) \text{ for positive } x, y} \ldots \textcircled{1}$.

Now choose some positive $x$.
$\underline{P}(x - 1, x) \implies f(1 - 2x) = (x - 1)f(x - 1) - xf(x)$
$\overset{\textcircled{1}}{\implies} f(1) - f(2x) = (x - 1)(f(x) - f(1)) - xf(x)$
$\implies f(2x) - f(x) = xf(1)$
$\overset{\textcircled{1}}{\implies} f(x) = xf(1)$

So $f(x) = cx$ for positive $x$. Since $f$ is odd, this is also true for negative $x$.
We are done.
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alexanderhamilton124
394 posts
#85
Y by
From $f(x^2) = xf(x)$, and $f$ is odd, we can directly use Cauchy to finish :wink:
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Siddharthmaybe
106 posts
#86
Y by
alexanderhamilton124 wrote:
From $f(x^2) = xf(x)$, and $f$ is odd, we can directly use Cauchy to finish :wink:

wait what?
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alexanderhamilton124
394 posts
#87 • 1 Y
Y by S_14159
I don't know if it's well known (somebody told me it was in BJV (?)), but look at the last property here
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by alexanderhamilton124, Dec 23, 2024, 7:22 PM
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ItsBesi
146 posts
#89 • 2 Y
Y by alexanderhamilton124, S_14159
alexanderhamilton124 wrote:
I don't know if it's well known (somebody told me it was in BJV (?)), but look at the last property here

Here is another problem you can use this trick. The problem is from 2022 Kosovo TST P1

https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c6h2797116p24625420
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mathwiz_1207
97 posts
#90
Y by
We claim the solutions are either $\boxed{f \equiv 0}$ and $\boxed{f = cx}$. It is easy to verify these both work. Now, we will show that these are the only functions satisfying the given conditions. Plugging in $x = 0$,
\[f(x^2) = xf(x)\]Plugging in $y = 0$,
\[f(-y^2) = -yf(y) = -f(y^2)\]So, $f(a) = -f(-a)$ for all $a$, thus it is odd. Now, we prove the following claim:

$f$ is additive.
We can rewrite the condition as
\[f(x^2 - y^2) = f(x^2) - f(y^2) \implies f(a - b) = f(a) - f(b)\]for all nonnegative reals $a, b$. Now, set $a = x + y, b = y$, for nonnegative $x, y$. This gives
\[f(y) = f(x+y) - f(x) \implies f(x) + f(y) = f(x + y)\]for all $x, y \geq 0$. Since $f$ is odd, we have
\[-f(-x-y) = f(x + y) = f(x) + f(y) = -f(-x) - f(-y) \implies f(-x-y) = f(-x) + f(-y)\]so $f$ is also additive over all the nonpositive reals. Now, rewrite
\[f(x) - f(-y) = f(x + y) \implies f(x) = f(x + y) + f(-y)\]We can set $x = -y + a$ for any $a \geq y \geq 0$, therefore the above equation rewrites as
\[f(a -y) = f(a) + f(-y)\]So, $f(x) + f(y) = f(x + y)$ is also true for all pairs $(a, b)$ with $a \geq 0 \geq b$.


In conclusion, $f$ is additive over all the real numbers. Thus, we have
\[f((x + 1)^2) = f(x^2) + f(2x) + f(1) = xf(x) + 2f(x) + f(1)\]\[f((x + 1)^2) = (x + 1)f(x + 1) = (x + 1)f(x) + xf(1) + f(1)\]Setting the two equations equal, we get
\[(x + 2)f(x) = (x + 1)f(x) + xf(1) \implies f(x) = xf(1) \implies f(x) = cx\]for some $c \in \mathbb{R}$, so we are done.
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eg4334
637 posts
#91
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First, $f(0)=0$ from $P(0, 0)$. Also $y=0$ gives $f(x^2)=xf(x)$ so we have $f(x^2-y^2)=f(x^2)-f(y^2)$. This also tells us that $f$ is odd. In other words $f(a+b)=f(a)+f(b)$ for one of $a, b$ being positive. We can naturally extend this to the other sign cases. Now we consider $f((x+1)^2) = (x+1)(f(x)+f(1)) = f(x^2+2x+1)=xf(x)+2f(x)+f(1)$. This tells us $f(x)=xf(1)$, or $f(x) = kx$.
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ray66
35 posts
#92
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Let $P(x,y)$ be the assertion that the functional equation holds for $(x,y)$. Plugging $(0,0)$ gives $f(0)=0$ and plugging $P(x,-y)$ gives $f$ is odd. Plugging $P(x,0)$ gives $f(x^2)=xf(x)$ for all real $x$. So for nonnegative real $x$ $P(\sqrt{x},0)$ gives $f(x)=\sqrt{x} f(\sqrt{x}) = x^{\frac{3}{4}}f(x^{\frac{1}{4}}) = \ldots = xf(1)$, and we can extend this to all negatives because $f$ is odd. So $f(x)=cx$ for all real $x$. Plugging this into the original equation gives $c(x^2-y^2)=cx^2-cy^2$, so $f(x)=cx$ is the only solution.
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Marcus_Zhang
980 posts
#93
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Cool ig
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Marcus_Zhang, Mar 14, 2025, 1:46 AM
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Maximilian113
575 posts
#94
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Let $P(x, y)$ denote the assertion. Then $P(x, 0) \implies f(x^2)=xf(x) \implies f(x)=-f(-x).$ Therefore $$P(x) \iff P(x-y)=P(x)-P(y)$$for all nonnegative $x, y.$ Therefore, for positive $x, y$ we have $$f(y)=f(x+y-x)=f(x+y)-f(x) \implies f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y).$$As $f(x)$ is odd, it follows that $f(x)$ is additive. Hence $$(x+1)(f(x)+f(1))=(x+1)f(x+1)=f((x+1)^2) = f(x^2)+2f(x)+f(1) \implies f(x)=xf(1).$$This solution clearly works.
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blueprimes
353 posts
#95
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We claim the answer is $f(x) \equiv cx$ for any constant $c$ which clearly works. Now we prove they are the only ones.

Note that the assertions $(x, 0)$ and $(-x, 0)$ for nonzero $x$ implies $f$ is odd. Now $y = 0$ gives $f(x^2) = x f(x)$ so in fact $f(x^2 - y^2) + f(y^2) = f(x^2)$. Imposing $x^2 > y^2$, replacing $x^2 - y^2 \mapsto x, y^2 \mapsto y$ yields $f(x) + f(y) = f(x + y)$ for all $x, y \ge 0$.

We use this fact to our advantage to decompose terms: Consider $(x, y) \mapsto (x + 1, x)$ for $x \ge 0$, we have
\begin{align*}
2 f(x) + f(1) &= f(2x + 1) \\
&= (x + 1) f(x + 1) - x f(x) \\
&= (x + 1) [f(x) + f(1)] - x f(x) \\
&= f(x) + x f(1) + f(1) \\
\end{align*}so $f(x) \equiv x f(1)$ for $x \ge 0$. But $f$ is odd, so $f(x) \equiv cx$ for some constant $x$ as needed.
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Ilikeminecraft
623 posts
#96
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I claim that $f(x) = ax$.

By taking $x = 0, y = 0$ as seperate cases, we see that $f(x^2) = xf(x), f(-y^2)= - yf(y).$ Thus, we also see that $f(x) = -f(-x).$

Thus, we can rewrite our equation as $f(x^2 - y^2) = f(x^2) - f(y^2),$ or $f(x^2 - y^2) + f(y^2) = f(x^2).$ For $x \geq y,$ we see that the domain is all positive, and thus, $(x + 1.434)^2 + (f(x))^2 > 1.$ Now we substitute $x = u + 1$ to get that $f(x) = xf(1). $ Thus, we are done.
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