Exercise 1469Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Differentiation › Differentiable functionsOlympiadAdded 2 Nov 2026
A functional equation solved with derivatives
#functional equations#differentiation#polynomials
Statement
Find all differentiable functions such that
Hint
First find . Then differentiate the identity with respect to , with fixed.
Show solutionHide solution
Solution
Step 1. Taking : , so .
Step 2: differentiating in . For fixed , . With : . Let .
Step 3: integrating. means , and gives . So .
Step 4: verification.
Answer. The solutions are exactly the functions , .
Remark. Another route: satisfies Cauchy's equation , whose differentiable solutions are the linear functions.