Re: HSC 2013 4U Marathon
Set y=1+t/x into the identity to get f(x+t)=f(x)+f(1+t/x).
So, f(x+t)-f(x)=f(1+t/x)-f(1)
So, x(f(x+t)-f(x))/t=(f(1+t/x)-f(1))/(t/x)
So, as t goes to 0, the RHS is f'(1), while the LHS is the limit of x((f(x+t)-f(x))/t as t goes to 0. Thus, since this limit is equal to 3, then f is differentiable at all positive x. So, xf'(x)=3 for all positive x. So, f(x)=3ln(x)+c. Set x=1 to get that f(1)=c=0. So, f(x)=3ln(x) and then we can check this.
So, substitute x=y=1 to get that f(1)=0Wait yea nevermind my method was a little different to yours, it involved a proof by contradiction (kinda).
Well done
---
Set y=1+t/x into the identity to get f(x+t)=f(x)+f(1+t/x).
So, f(x+t)-f(x)=f(1+t/x)-f(1)
So, x(f(x+t)-f(x))/t=(f(1+t/x)-f(1))/(t/x)
So, as t goes to 0, the RHS is f'(1), while the LHS is the limit of x((f(x+t)-f(x))/t as t goes to 0. Thus, since this limit is equal to 3, then f is differentiable at all positive x. So, xf'(x)=3 for all positive x. So, f(x)=3ln(x)+c. Set x=1 to get that f(1)=c=0. So, f(x)=3ln(x) and then we can check this.