Locally compact set-valued solutions for the general linear equation (Q1881593)

The general solution \(f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}\) of the linear functional equation \(f(ax+by)=pf(x)+qf(y)\; ((x,y)\in\mathbb{R}^2;\; a,b,p,q\) real constants) has been determined by \textit{J. Aczél} [Comment. Math. Helv. 21, 247--252 (1948; Zbl 0031.11705)] under the assumption that \(f\) is continuous at a point, and by \textit{L. Losonczi} [Acta Sci. Math. 25, 250--254 (1964; Zbl 0137.32603)] without any assumption, regularity or otherwise. The authors offer general set valued solutions on real linear spaces, where the function values are closed convex and locally compact subsets of a real Hausdorff space, under two further assumptions about the real coefficients \(a,b,p,q\) and about the zero-points (origins) of the two spaces, respectively.