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Difference between revisions of "2020 CIME II Problems/Problem 9"

(Created page with "==Solution== We can start by finding the number of solution for smaller repeptitions of <math>f</math>. Notice that we can solve <math>f(f(x))=f(x)</math> by applying the func...")
 
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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
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We can start by finding the number of solution for smaller repeptitions of <math>f</math>. Notice that we can solve <math>f(f(x))=f(x)</math> by applying the functional inverse <math>f^{-1}</math> to both sides as you would to solve any equation: <math>f^{-1}(f(f(x)))=f^{-1}(f(x))\Longrightarrow f(x)=|x|</math> (We put the absolute value bars because we know that taking the inverse of <math>f</math> of both sides involves taking the square root of both sides, and <math>\sqrt{t^2}=|t|</math>). From here, it is easy to see that this equation has <math>4</math> solutions at <math>\pm1</math> and <math>\pm2</math>. We can also try for <math>f(f(f(x)))=f(f(x))</math> (we will solve more methodically here): <cmath>((x^2-2)^2-2)^2-2=(x^2-2)^2-2</cmath> <cmath>(x^2-2)^2-2)^2 = (x^2-2)^2</cmath> <cmath>(x^2-2)^2-2=|x^2-2|</cmath> <cmath>(x^2-2)^2-2=\pm(x^2-2)</cmath> <cmath>(x^2-2)^2=x^2 \textup{  OR  } (x^2-2)^2=-x^2+4</cmath>The first equation yeilds <math>4</math> results, and the second equation yields <math>2</math> results for a total of <math>6</math> results. It appeats that <math>\underbrace{f(f\cdots f}_{n\textup{ times}}(x))=\underbrace{f(f\cdots f}_{n-1\textup{ times}}(x))</math> bas <math>2n</math> real solutions. This makes logical sense considering that <math>f</math> is an even polynomial with 2 roots. For a more formal proof, we consider <math>F_n(x)=\underbrace{f(f\cdots f}_{n\textup{ times}}(x))</math>. We are asked to find the number of solutions of the equation in the form <math>F_n(x)=F_{n-1}(x)</math>
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We can start by finding the number of solution for smaller repeptitions of <math>f</math>. Notice that we can solve <math>f(f(x))=f(x)</math> by applying the functional inverse <math>f^{-1}</math> to both sides as you would to solve any equation: <math>f^{-1}(f(f(x)))=f^{-1}(f(x))\Longrightarrow f(x)=|x|</math> (We put the absolute value bars because we know that taking the inverse of <math>f</math> of both sides involves taking the square root of both sides, and <math>\sqrt{t^2}=|t|</math>). From here, it is easy to see that this equation has <math>4</math> solutions at <math>\pm1</math> and <math>\pm2</math>. We can also try for <math>f(f(f(x)))=f(f(x))</math> (we will solve more methodically here): <cmath>((x^2-2)^2-2)^2-2=(x^2-2)^2-2</cmath> <cmath>(x^2-2)^2-2)^2 = (x^2-2)^2</cmath> <cmath>(x^2-2)^2-2=|x^2-2|</cmath> <cmath>(x^2-2)^2-2=\pm(x^2-2)</cmath> <cmath>(x^2-2)^2=x^2 \textup{  OR  } (x^2-2)^2=-x^2+4</cmath>The first equation yeilds <math>4</math> results, and the second equation yields <math>2</math> results for a total of <math>6</math> results. It appeats that <math>\underbrace{f(f\cdots f}_{n\textup{ times}}(x))=\underbrace{f(f\cdots f}_{n-1\textup{ times}}(x))</math> bas <math>2n</math> real solutions, giving a total of <math>6060</math> apparent solutions for the original equation. This makes logical sense considering that <math>f</math> is an even polynomial with 2 roots. For a more formal proof, we consider <math>F_n(x)=\underbrace{f(f\cdots f}_{n\textup{ times}}(x))</math>. We are asked to find the number of solutions of the equation in the form <math>F_n(x)=F_{n-1}(x)</math>. Following from how we colved the first simple case, <math>f^{-1}(F_n(x))=f^{-1}(F_{n-1}(x)) = F_{n-2}(x)=|F_{n-1}(x)|</math>

Revision as of 03:05, 30 November 2021

Solution

We can start by finding the number of solution for smaller repeptitions of $f$. Notice that we can solve $f(f(x))=f(x)$ by applying the functional inverse $f^{-1}$ to both sides as you would to solve any equation: $f^{-1}(f(f(x)))=f^{-1}(f(x))\Longrightarrow f(x)=|x|$ (We put the absolute value bars because we know that taking the inverse of $f$ of both sides involves taking the square root of both sides, and $\sqrt{t^2}=|t|$). From here, it is easy to see that this equation has $4$ solutions at $\pm1$ and $\pm2$. We can also try for $f(f(f(x)))=f(f(x))$ (we will solve more methodically here): \[((x^2-2)^2-2)^2-2=(x^2-2)^2-2\] \[(x^2-2)^2-2)^2 = (x^2-2)^2\] \[(x^2-2)^2-2=|x^2-2|\] \[(x^2-2)^2-2=\pm(x^2-2)\] \[(x^2-2)^2=x^2 \textup{ OR } (x^2-2)^2=-x^2+4\]The first equation yeilds $4$ results, and the second equation yields $2$ results for a total of $6$ results. It appeats that $\underbrace{f(f\cdots f}_{n\textup{ times}}(x))=\underbrace{f(f\cdots f}_{n-1\textup{ times}}(x))$ bas $2n$ real solutions, giving a total of $6060$ apparent solutions for the original equation. This makes logical sense considering that $f$ is an even polynomial with 2 roots. For a more formal proof, we consider $F_n(x)=\underbrace{f(f\cdots f}_{n\textup{ times}}(x))$. We are asked to find the number of solutions of the equation in the form $F_n(x)=F_{n-1}(x)$. Following from how we colved the first simple case, $f^{-1}(F_n(x))=f^{-1}(F_{n-1}(x)) = F_{n-2}(x)=|F_{n-1}(x)|$

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