# Find all functions $f : \mathbb{(0,\infty})\to\mathbb{R}$ such that $f(x+y) = xf(y)+ yf(x)$

Find all functions $$f : \mathbb{(0,\infty)}\to\mathbb{R}$$ such that $$f(x+y) = xf(y)+ yf(x)$$ if $$f$$ is continuous at $$x=1$$

This problem was looking quite easy at first but the domain of positive reals is posing me a problem. I couldn't plug in zero's for $$x$$ and $$y$$. I tried putting $$x=y$$ but the result $$f(2x) = 2xf(x)$$ couldn't be used as a recurrence relation $$\infty$$ times as that would yields $$f(0)$$ again. I've run out of ideas. Please help.

• Setting $y=0$ means that you must have $f(x) = x f(0)$. – copper.hat Apr 23 at 17:22
• $y= 0$ is outside the domain. But looking at $x = y = 1$ may prove informative. – John Hughes Apr 23 at 17:23
• Also: continuity at $x = 1$ should be a powerful tool, but to use it, you'll need to look at $f(1 + u)$ for small values of $u$. How might you do that? – John Hughes Apr 23 at 17:24
• I should read before commenting. – copper.hat Apr 23 at 17:26
• I'd say you're entitled, at this point, to the occasional lapse in scanning a question. :) – John Hughes Apr 23 at 17:33

This is one possible continuation of your attempted solution.

By letting $$\ y=x=z\$$ you found that $$f(2z) = 2z f(z). \tag{1}$$ Let $$\ y=2z,\ x=z\$$ to get $$f(3z) = 2z f(z) + z f(2z). \tag{2}$$ Let $$\ y=2z,\ x=2z\$$ to get $$f(4z) = 4z f(2z). \tag{3}$$ Let $$\ y=3z,\ x=z\$$ to get $$f(4z) = 3z f(z) + z f(3z). \tag{4}$$ Now eliminate $$\ f(2z),\ f(3z),\ f(4z)\$$ from the four linear equations to get $$(3-6z+2z^2)f(z) = 0. \tag{5}$$ There are two positive roots of the quadratic which implies that $$\ f(z) = 0\$$ for any other values of $$\ z.\$$ Use equation $$(1)$$ to prove $$\ f(z) = 0\$$ for the positive roots also.

Notice that no continuity assumption or $$\ f(0)\$$ was used to prove $$\ f(z)=0\ \forall z.$$

• Wow, this seems great! Thank you Somos. – Shashwat1337 Apr 24 at 5:15
• Excellent way to ignore a seemingly important assumption – Hagen von Eitzen Apr 24 at 5:33

If $$f$$ satisfies the given condition so does $$cf$$ for any constant $$c$$. Unless $$f(1) = 0$$ we might as well assume $$f(1) = 1$$. Some calculations:

$$f(2) = f(1 + 1) = f(1) + f(1) = 2$$ $$f(3) = f(1 + 2) = 2f(1) + f(2) = 4$$ $$f(4) = f(2 + 2) = 2f(2) + 2 f(2) = 8$$ $$f(4) = f(1 + 3) = 3f(1) + f(3) = 3 + 4 = 7$$ The last two equations are incompatible so we must have $$f(1) = 0$$.

Doing calculations like the above gives you $$f(n) = 0$$ and $$f(2^{-n}) = 0$$ for all natural numbers $$n$$. The additivity extends this to $$f(r) = 0$$ for all dyadic rationals $$r$$. This should give you that $$f(x) = 0$$ for all positive $$x$$ if you can exploit the continuity condition.