Functional Equations and How to Solve Them / Edition 1

by Christopher G. Small

Overview

Over the years, a number of books have been written on the theory of functional equations. However, very little has been published which helps readers to solve functional equations in mathematics competitions and mathematical problem solving. This book fills that gap. The student who encounters a functional equation on a mathematics contest will need to investigate solutions to the equation by finding all solutions, or by showing that all solutions have a particular property. The emphasis here will be on the development of those tools which are most useful in assigning a family of solutions to each functional equation in explicit form.

At the end of each chapter, readers will find a list of problems associated with the material in that chapter. The problems vary greatly, with the easiest problems being accessible to any high school student who has read the chapter carefully. The most difficult problems will be a reasonable challenge to advanced students studying for the International Mathematical Olympiad at the high school level or the William Lowell Putnam Competition for university undergraduates. The book ends with an appendix containing topics that provide a springboard for further investigation of the concepts of limits, infinite series and continuity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780387345345
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	11/14/2006
Series:	Problem Books in Mathematics
Edition description:	2007
Pages:	131
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.01(d)

Table of Contents

An historical introduction.- Functional equations with two variables.- Functional equations with one variable.- Miscellaneous methods for functional equations.- Some closing heuristics.- Appendix: Hamel bases.- Hints and partial solutions to problems.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

"This book is devoted to functional equations of a special type, namely to those appearing in competitions … . The book contains many solved examples and problems at the end of each chapter. … The book has 130 pages, 5 chapters and an appendix, a Hints/Solutions section, a short bibliography and an index. … The book will be valuable for instructors working with young gifted students in problem solving seminars." (EMS Newsletter, June, 2008)

From the Publisher