The existence of solvable operators in the ideal (Q1100361)

Let R be the set of all real numbers, and let f be a function on the plane \(R\times R\) taking values in R. Let (x,y) be coordinates in \(R\times R\). The author obtains the general solution of the polygonal functional equation \[ f(x+t,y)+f(x-t,y)+f(x,y+t)+(x,y-t)=f(x+t,y+t)+f(x- t,y+t)+f(x+t,y-t)f(x-t,y-t) \] (x,y)\(\in R\times R\), \(t\in R\), when no regularity assumptions are imposed on f. An application of the polygonal equation to a geometric characterisation of quadratic functions from the stand-point of conformal mapping properties is also included. Under the additional hypothesis of continuity of f, the equivalence of the polygonal functional equation to host of other functional equations is stated.