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XXV OBM

Brazil algebra

Problem

is a real-valued function defined on the positive reals such that (1) if , then ; (2) for all . Show that for some value of .
Solution
Put , . We have , so , or . Now , so .

Put . Then for all . Hence . So is negative for sufficiently large .

Techniques

Functional EquationsInjectivity / surjectivityExistential quantifiersRecurrence relations