Exercise 1314Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Continuity › Functional equationsM1Added 5 Nov 2026
f(x)f(y) − f(xy) = x + y
#functional equation#substitution#polynomial identity
Statement
Find all such that for all real .
Hint
Put and write . Show , then use to find the form of .
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Solution
Step 1. Put : , i.e. for all . If , this gives for all , absurd. So and
Step 2. Substitute into the equation:
which simplifies to
Taking , : , so . (Then the second coefficient is as well.)
Answer. . Check: ✓.
Lesson. Substituting for a variable often makes the equation linear in : always try it first, and remember to exclude the degenerate value () before dividing.