Iterative roots of clenched single-plateau functions (Q511800)

Let \(f\) be a mapping of \(I := [0,1]\) into itself. Then the iterates of \(f\) is defined as \(f^0(x) = x\) and \(f^n(x) = f(f^{n-1}(x))\) for \(n = 1, 2, \ldots\). A solution of the functional equation \(f^n(x) = F(x)\), \(x\in I\), is called an \(n\)th order iterative root of the mapping \(F:\, I\to I\). In the paper, the problem of iterative roots is studied for a special class of continuous functions \(F\). Each function \(F\) of the class has a non-degenerate interval \(J\subset I\) on which \(F\) is constant and is strictly monotone on other sub-intervals of \(I\). Moreover, for every positive integer \(n\) the iterate \(F^n\) is constant on \(J\). The class of functions is called clenched class with single plateau. The authors distinguish six cases, depending on the location of the interval \(J\) and the nature of the behavior of the function at additional intervals. For each case, conditions are obtained under which a function \(F\) has iterative roots or not. The obtained results are illustrated by some examples.