IMO 2008 · Problem 4

Find all functions \(f:(0,\infty)\to(0,\infty)\) (so, \(f\) is a function from the positive real numbers to the positive real numbers) such that \[ \frac{(f(w))^2+(f(x))^2}{f(y^2)+f(z^2)} = \frac{w^2+x^2}{y^2+z^2} \] for all positive real numbers \(w,x,y,z,\) satisfying \(wx=yz\).

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

Answer

The only solutions are \[ \boxed{f(t)=t\quad\text{for every }t>0} \qquad\text{and}\qquad \boxed{f(t)=\frac1t\quad\text{for every }t>0}. \]

Solution

Setting \(w=x=y=z=1\) gives \(f(1)=1\).

For any \(t>0\), take \[ w=t,\qquad x=1,\qquad y=z=\sqrt t. \] The required product condition holds, so \[ \frac{f(t)^2+1}{2f(t)}=\frac{t^2+1}{2t}. \] Rearranging and factoring yields \[ (f(t)-t)(tf(t)-1)=0. \] Consequently, for every \(t>0\), \[ f(t)\in\left\{t,\frac1t\right\}. \tag{1} \]

We show that the two choices cannot occur at two arguments different from \(1\). Suppose there exist \(a,b>0\), both different from \(1\), such that \[ f(a)=a,\qquad f(b)=\frac1b. \] Substituting \(w=a\), \(x=b\), and \(y=z=\sqrt{ab}\) into the original equation gives \[ a^2+\frac1{b^2} =\frac{a^2+b^2}{ab}\,f(ab). \tag{2} \] By (1), there are two possibilities:

  • If \(f(ab)=ab\), equation (2) gives \(b^{-2}=b^2\). Since \(b>0\), this implies \(b=1\), a contradiction.
  • If \(f(ab)=1/(ab)\), equation (2) gives \[ a^2+\frac1{b^2}=\frac1{a^2}+\frac1{b^2}. \] Thus \(a^2=a^{-2}\), and positivity implies \(a=1\), again a contradiction.

Therefore all arguments different from \(1\) must use the same choice in (1). Since both choices equal \(1\) at \(t=1\), the only possible functions are those stated in the answer.

Finally, \(f(t)=t\) satisfies the equation immediately. For \(f(t)=1/t\), using \(wx=yz\), we obtain \[ \frac{(f(w))^2+(f(x))^2}{f(y^2)+f(z^2)} = \frac{w^{-2}+x^{-2}}{y^{-2}+z^{-2}} = \frac{w^2+x^2}{y^2+z^2}\, \frac{y^2z^2}{w^2x^2} = \frac{w^2+x^2}{y^2+z^2}. \] Both functions take positive values on their domain, so both are valid solutions.

The solution was checked against the official IMO shortlist solutions.