An invariance of geometric mean with respect to Lagrangian means (Q878487)

If \(A\), \(B\), and \(C\) are means of two numbers \(x\) and \(y\) in some interval \(J\), then we say that \(A\) is invariant with respect to the pair \((B,C)\) if \(A(B,C)=A\), i.e., if \(A(B(x,y),C(x,y)) = A(x,y)\) for all \(x\) and \(y\) in \(J\). The Lagrangian mean \(L^f\) with respect to a well-behaved function \(f\) on \(J\) is defined by taking \(L^f(x,y)\) to be the unique number \(z\) between \(x\) and \(y\) for which \((y-x) f'(z) = f(y) - f(x)\). The authors find conditions on \(f\) and \(g\) under which the geometric mean \(G\) is invariant with respect to the pair \(\left(L^f, L^g\right)\). These rather severe regularity conditions on \(f\) and \(g\) are also seen to be sufficient for the Gaussian compound \(L^{f} \otimes L^{g}\) to converge to the geometric mean \(G\). The analogous problem of when the arithmetic mean is invariant with respect to the pair \(\left(L^f, L^g\right)\) is solved by \textit{J. Matkowski} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 309, No.~1, 15--24 (2005; Zbl 1084.39019)], and the problem of when the geometric mean is invariant with respect to a pair \(\left(M,N\right)\) of Stolarsky's means is solved by \textit{J. Błasińska-Lesk} and the authors [Result. Math. 43, No.~1/2, 42--55 (2003; Zbl 1040.26013)].