Q. \(f(1+x)+f(1-x)=0\), \(f(-x)=f(x)\), \(2^{x}-1\).
Answer
The given functional equations describe properties of a function \(f(x)\):
1. \(f(-x)=f(x)\) indicates that the function is even (symmetric about the \(y\)-axis).
2. \(f(1+x)+f(1-x)=0\) implies the function is odd with respect to the point \(x=1\), which also means \(f(x)\) is periodic with a period of \(4\).
The expression \(2^x-1\) is not a solution to these equations. Evaluating \(2^x-1\):
– Evenness check: \(f(-1)=2^{-1}-1=-\tfrac{1}{2}\), while \(f(1)=2^1-1=1\). Since \(f(-1)\neq f(1)\), it is not even.
– Symmetry check: \(f(1+0)+f(1-0)=1+1=2\neq 0\).
Conclusion: The function \(2^x-1\) does not satisfy the specified conditions. A valid example that satisfies both conditions is \(f(x)=\cos\!\left(\frac{\pi x}{2}\right)\).
Detailed Explanation
Analysis of the Functional Equations for (f(x))
The problem provides two functional equations and asks us to analyze them or evaluate a specific function \(2^x – 1\) against them. The equations are:
- \(f(1 + x) + f(1 – x) = 0\)
- \(f(-x) = f(x)\)
Step 1: Understand the Symmetry Conditions
Equation 1: \(f(1 + x) + f(1 – x) = 0\) can be rewritten as \(f(1 + x) = -f(1 – x)\). This indicates that the function is odd with respect to the point \(x = 1\). This means the graph of the function has rotational symmetry of 180 degrees around the point \((1,0)\).
Equation 2: \(f(-x) = f(x)\) defines an even function. This means the graph is symmetric with respect to the y-axis.
Step 2: Derive Periodicity
To see how these two symmetries interact, we can perform a substitution. From Equation 1, let \(x\) be replaced by \(x + 1\):
\(f(1 + (x + 1)) + f(1 – (x + 1)) = 0\)
That is, \(f(x + 2) + f(-x) = 0\).
Using Equation 2 (\(f(-x) = f(x)\)), we substitute \(f(x)\) for \(f(-x)\):
\(f(x + 2) + f(x) = 0\)
\(f(x + 2) = -f(x)\).
Now, to find the period, apply this result twice:
\(f(x + 4) = f((x + 2) + 2) = -f(x + 2) = -(-f(x)) = f(x)\).
Conclusion: Any function satisfying both conditions must be periodic with period 4.
Step 3: Evaluate \(f(x) = 2^x – 1\)
Now we check if the specific expression \(2^x – 1\) satisfies these properties.
Check Evenness:
\(f(-x) = 2^{-x} – 1 = \dfrac{1}{2^x} – 1\).
Since \(\dfrac{1}{2^x} – 1 \neq 2^x – 1\) for general \(x\), the function is not even. Thus, it fails Equation 2.
Check Symmetry about \(x=1\):
\(f(1+x) + f(1-x) = (2^{1+x} – 1) + (2^{1-x} – 1) = 2\cdot 2^x + \dfrac{2}{2^x} – 2\).
This expression does not equal zero for all \(x\). For example, if \(x=0\), we get \(2\cdot 1 + 2\cdot 1 – 2 = 2 \neq 0\). Thus, it fails Equation 1.
Final Conclusion
The function \(f(x) = 2^x – 1\) does not satisfy the given functional equations. Functions that do satisfy these conditions are typically trigonometric, such as \(f(x) = \cos\!\left(\dfrac{\pi x}{2}\right)\).
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