On the functional equation \(f(x)+f(y)=\max\{f(xy),f(xy^{-1})\}\) on groups (Q2408902)

Let \(f: G\to \mathbb{R}\) be a mapping defined on an arbitrary group \(G\). The main result of the paper states that \(f\) satisfies the functional equation \[ f(x)+f(y)=\max\{f(xy),f(xy^{-1})\},\qquad x,y\in G, \] if and only if there exists an additive mapping \(a: G\to \mathbb{R}\) such that \(f(x)=|a(x)|\) for all \(x\in G\). Such an assertion was obtained earlier but only under the additional assumption that \(G\) is abelian -- cf. [\textit{A. Chaljub-Simon} and \textit{P. Volkmann}, Aequationes Math. 47, No. 1, 60--68 (1994; Zbl 0798.39007)] or under a weaker condition \(f(xyz)=f(yxz)\) for all \(x,y,z\in G\) [\textit{P. Volkmann}, ``Charakterisierung des Betrages reellwertiger additiver Funktionen auf Gruppen'', \url{https://publikationen.bibliothek.kit.edu/1000067068/4068289} (2017)].