De Rham systems and the solution of a class of functional equations (Q1317961)

Let \( f_ 0, f_ 1 : [0,1] \rightarrow [0,1]\) be strictly increasing and continuous functions with \(f_ 0 (0) = 0\), \(f_ 0 (1) = f_ 1(0)\), and \(f_ 1 (1) = 1\) satisfying a Lipschitz condition with constant \(\alpha\), \(0 < \alpha < 1\). The authors determine a unique involutive and decreasing solution of the functional equation (1) \(N(f_ 0(x)) = f_ 1(N(x))\), \(x \in [0,1]\). This solution is given by the formula \(N(x)= R (1-R^{-1}(x))\) where \(R\) is the only solution of the De Rham system \(R(x/2) = f_ 0(R(x))\) and \(R((x+1)/2) = f_ 1(R(x))\). Moreover, for a convenient dense set in \([0,1]\) a description of the key function \(N\) is attained. As application, the authors present a class of binary operations on \([0,1]\) which is stable by \(N\)-duality if and only if \(N\) is the solution of (1).