# $\int _0^1f^2\left(x\right)dx-2\int _0^{\sqrt{3}-1}\:\left(x+1\right)f\left(x\right)dx\:+1=0$

Let $$f$$ be an increasingly continuous function over $$[0,1]$$ such that:

$$\int _0^1(f\left(x\right))^2dx-2\int _0^{\sqrt{3}-1}\:\left(x+1\right)f\left(x\right)dx\:+1=0$$

Find all functions $$f$$ with these properties.

Attempt.:

First, the function $$f$$ is integrable therefore the computations with integrals work there. Then I did the following:

$$\int _0^1(f\left(x\right))^2dx-2\int _0^{\sqrt{3}-1}\:\left(x+1\right)f\left(x\right)dx\:+1=$$ $$\int _0^{\sqrt{3}-1}(f\left(x\right))^2dx+\int _{\sqrt{3}-1}^1(f\left(x\right))^2dx-2\int _0^{\sqrt{3}-1}\:\left(x+1\right)f\left(x\right)dx\:+1=$$ $$\int _0^{\sqrt{3}-1}\left(f\left(x\right)-\left(x+1\right)\right)^2dx+\int _{\sqrt{3}-1}^1(f\left(x\right))^2dx-\int _0^{\sqrt{3}-1}\left(x+1\right)^2dx+1=0$$ Since $$-\int _0^{\sqrt{3}-1}\left(x+1\right)^2dx=-\frac{6\sqrt{3}-10}{3}-3+\sqrt{3}$$ Then $$\int _0^{\sqrt{3}-1}\left(f\left(x\right)dx-\left(x+1\right)\right)^2dx+\int _{\sqrt{3}-1}^1(f\left(x\right))^2dx-\frac{6\sqrt{3}-10}{3}-2+\sqrt{3}=0$$ $$\int _0^{\sqrt{3}-1}\left(f\left(x\right)dx-\left(x+1\right)\right)^2dx+\int _{\sqrt{3}-1}^1(f\left(x\right))^2dx+\frac{-3\sqrt{3}+4}{3}=0$$ How should I continue from there? I got stuck there. I am not sure this is going to lead me somewhere. Maybe I should have started differently.

Has somebody an idea what the functions look like?

• Retract the previous comment : you haven't used the increasing hypothesis yet. It will definitely come in at some point. May 17 at 11:27
• No, this is not something arbitrary that I thought up, it is an exercise with a definite solution. May 17 at 16:17
• Where did this arise? What age? What education may be assumed? How difficult may the solution be? May 17 at 18:33
• Do we know anything more about $f$, like it being positive? May 17 at 21:38

Write $$\alpha = \sqrt{3}-1$$ for brevity, and note that $$\int_0^\alpha(1+x)dx = 1$$ and $$\int_0^\alpha xdx = \int_\alpha^1dx$$. Then we have $$\begin{eqnarray} \int_0^1f(x)^2dx &-& 2\int_0^\alpha(1+x)f(x)dx + 1 \\ &=& \int_0^1f(x)^2dx-2\int_0^{\alpha}xf(x)dx -2\int_0^1f(x)dx+2 \int_{\alpha}^1f(x)dx + 1 \\ &=& \int_0^1\left[f(x)-1\right]^2dx + 2\left[\int_{\alpha}^1f(x)dx - \int_0^{\alpha}xf(x)dx\right] \\ &=& \int_0^1\left[f(x)-1\right]^2dx + 2\int_0^\alpha[f(\alpha )-f(x)]xdx+2\int_\alpha^1[f(x)-f(\alpha)]dx \end{eqnarray}$$ Since $$f$$ is increasing, all integrands are strictly positive, so this can never be zero.
Substituting $$f(x)=1+g(x)$$, your equation becomes $$\int_0^{\sqrt{3}-1} {\rm d}x \, g(x)\left[g(x)-2x\right] + \int_{\sqrt{3}-1}^1 {\rm d}x \, g(x) \left[g(x)+2\right]=0 \tag{1}$$ where $$g(x)$$ is continuously increasing on $$(0,1)$$. Evidently this equation is fulfilled if $$g=0$$. However, it would be not increasing. We show that the LHS is always positive if $$g\neq 0$$. To this end, we want to bound it from below: $$\text{LHS}(1) > -2g(\sqrt{3}-1) \int_0^{\sqrt{3}-1} {\rm d}x \,x + 2g(\sqrt{3}-1)\int_{\sqrt{3}-1}^1 {\rm d}x \\ =g(\sqrt{3}-1) \left( -(\sqrt{3}-1)^2+2(2-\sqrt{3}) \right) = 0 \, .$$