Functional equations and how to solve them (Q5898289)

The book begins as follows. ``Over the years, a number of books have been written on the theory of functional equations. However, few books have been published on solving functional equations which arise in mathematics competitions and mathematical problem solving. The intention of this book is to go some distance towards filling this gap''. From the rest of the book it is clear that the author means mathematical problems for high school (junior high, etc.) students. As to competitions, he writes: ``Functional equations are often the most difficult problems to be found on mathematics competitions because they require a minimal amount of background theory and a maximal amount of ingenuity''. The book deals a.o. with Cauchy, Jensen, Pexider, d'Alembert, Abel, Schroeder, Euler, linear functional equations in one and several variables, in particular also in positive integer variables, and solution methods. On undergraduate (even fresh(wo)men) level these topics are discussed e.g. in \textit{J. Aczel}'s ``A short course on functional equations. Theory and decision library. Series B: Mathematical and Statistical Methods, 3. Dordrecht etc.: D. Reidel Publishing Company, a member of the Kluwer Academic Publishers Group. (1987; Zbl 0607.39002)], sections 1.-5., 7., 8. (in section 8. ``Abel and Schroeder equations'' is given a shorter shift than in the present book, see, however, a.o., the book [``Iterative functional equations''. Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Its Applications, 32. Cambridge etc.: Cambridge University Press. (1990; Zbl 0703.39005)] by \textit{M. Kuczma, B. Choczewski }and \textit{R. Ger}). The present book starts with A historical introduction, not unlike the Historical notes, written mainly by Jean Dhombres, in the book \textit{J. Aczel} and \textit{J. Dhombres} ``Functional equations in several variables.'' Encyclopaedia of Mathematics and Its Applications, 31. Cambridge etc.: Cambridge University Press. (1989; Zbl 0685.39006). The main purpose and merits of the book under review are the many solved, unsolved, partially solved problems and hints about several particular functional equations.