Let $f:\mathbb{R}^+\to\mathbb{R}^+$ be such that $$f(x+f(y))^2\geq f(x)\left(f(x+f(y))+f(y)\right)$$for all $x,y\in\mathbb{R}^+$. Show that $f$ is unbounded, i.e. for each $M\in\mathbb{R}^+$, there exists $x\in\mathbb{R}^+$ such that $f(x)>M$.
Problem
Source: 2020 Thailand October Camp 1.2
Tags: function, functional equation, unbounded, algebra
24.02.2022 09:57
Assume contrary that $f(x)<N$ for all $x\in\mathbb{R}^+$. $$f(x+f(y))^2\geq f(x)\left(f(x+f(y))+f(y)\right)>f(x)\cdot f(x+f(y))$$$\implies f(x+f(y))>f(x)$. So $$N^2>f(x+f(y))^2\geq f(x)\left(f(x+f(y))+f(y)\right)>f(x)^2+f(x)\cdot f(y)$$Setting $x=y$ gives that $\frac{N}{\sqrt{2}}>f(x)$ for all $x\in\mathbb{R}^+$. So induction give that $\frac{N}{(\sqrt{2})^n}>f(x)$ for all $n\in\mathbb{N}$. Sending $n$ to infinity gives contradiction. So $f$ is unbounded.
24.02.2022 14:05
if $\mathbb{R}^+$ refers to the set of nonnegatives reals as french meaning we have to add $ f\ne 0$
24.02.2022 18:16
Put $x=y$ we get $f(x+f(x))^2 \ge f(x) \left( f(x+f(x))+f(x) \right)$, so $f(x+f(x)) \ge \frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2} f(x)$. Iterating shows that $f$ is unbounded.
09.03.2022 10:26
$P(x,x) \implies f(x+f(x)) > f(x)$ it follows from this inequality that the function $f$ is unbounded.
09.03.2022 10:45
lazizbek42 wrote: $P(x,x) \implies f(x+f(x)) > f(x)$ it follows from this inequality that the function $f$ is unbounded. I don't think so. Because $f(m) >f(n) $ for all $m>n$ doesn't mean that this function is unbounded. For example $f(x) =1-\frac{1}{2^x}$ is strictly increasing function, but it has bound, which is $1$.