On multiplicative solutions of the parallelogram functional equation (Q1313448)

The author proves an interesting generalization of a result of \textit{C. Hammer} and \textit{P. Volkmann} [Abh. Math. Semin. Univ. Hamb. 61, 197-201 (1991; Zbl 0753.39004)]. Let \(P\) be a commutative ring with unit, \(K\) a (commutative) field of characteristic \(\neq 2\), and \(\overline K\) the algebraic closure of \(K\). The theorem states that a function \(f : P \to K\) satisfies the system of functional equations \(f(x + y) + f(x - y) = 2f(x) + 2f(y)\), \(f(xy) = f(x) f(y)\), if and only if there exist an \(\alpha \in \overline K\) and two additive multiplicative functions \(u\), \(v : P \to K (\alpha)\) such that \(\alpha^ 2 \in K\) and \(u(x) + v(x) \in K\), \(u(x) - v(x) \in \alpha K\) and \(f(x) = u(x) v(x)\) for all \(x \in P\). The proof is quite different from that of Hammer and Volkmann, who treated the case \(P = K = \mathbb{R}\) (the real field) using some special properties of \(\mathbb{R}\).