IMO 1972 · Problem 5

Let \(f\) and \(g\) be real-valued functions defined for all real values of \(x\) and \(y\), and satisfying the equation \[ f(x+y)+f(x-y)=2f(x)g(y) \] for all \(x,y\). Prove that if \(f(x)\) is not identically zero, and if \(|f(x)|\leq 1\) for all \(x\), then \(|g(y)|\leq 1\) for all \(y\).

Official text of the problem. Official problem paper (PDF)

Solution

Let \[ M=\sup_{t\in\mathbb R}|f(t)|. \] Since \(f\) is not identically zero and \(|f(t)|\leq 1\) everywhere, we have \(0<M\leq 1\).

Fix any \(y\in\mathbb R\). For every \(x\in\mathbb R\), the given equation and the triangle inequality imply \[ 2|f(x)|\,|g(y)| =\bigl|f(x+y)+f(x-y)\bigr| \leq |f(x+y)|+|f(x-y)| \leq 2M. \] Taking the supremum over \(x\), with \(|g(y)|\) a fixed nonnegative constant, gives \[ 2M|g(y)|\leq 2M. \] Because \(M>0\), division by \(2M\) yields \(|g(y)|\leq 1\). As \(y\) was arbitrary, this holds for every real \(y\).

The solution was checked against John Scholes' IMO solution archive (Kalva).