Stability of some functional equations related to distance measures. I. (Q2430035)

The functional equation \[ f(pr,qs)+f(ps,qr)=f(p,q)f(r,s),\qquad p,q,r,s\in I:=(0,1)\tag{\(FE\)} \] with \(f: I^2\to\mathbb{R}\) has been investigated by \textit{J. K. Chung, P. L. Kannappan, C. T. Ng} and \textit{P. K. Sahoo} [J.\ Math.\ Anal.\ Appl.\ 138, No.~1, 280--292 (1989; Zbl 0669.60025)] in relation with measures of distances between probability distributions. In the present paper, the authors deal with the stability of (\(FE\)) as well as of its two generalizations: \[ f(pr,qs)+f(ps,qr)=f(p,q)g(r,s),\qquad p,q,r,s\in I; \] \[ f(pr,qs)+f(ps,qr)=g(p,q)f(r,s),\qquad p,q,r,s\in I. \] In particular, it is proved that if \(f: I\to\mathbb{R}\) satisfies \[ |f(pr,qs)+f(ps,qr)-f(p,q)f(r,s)|\leq\phi(r,s),\qquad p,q,r,s\in I \] for some \(\psi: I^2\to\mathbb{R}_+\), then either \(f\) is bounded or it satisfies (\(FE\)).