Measurable solutions of an alternative functional equation

DOI10.1007/S00010-026-01263-ZMaRDI QIDQ6870499zbMATH OpenFDO

Publication date 21 January 2026

Published in Aequationes Mathematicae (Search for Journal in Brave)

Copyright license Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Full work available at URL https://doi.org/10.1007/S00010-026-01263-Z

alternative functional equation Darboux functions functional equation generalized weighted quasi-arithmetic means measurable functions

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Continuity and related questions (modulus of continuity, semicontinuity, discontinuities, etc.) for real functions in one variable (26A15) Functional equations for real functions (39B22)

Review text

The paper investigates the functional equation\N\[\N \varphi\!\left(\frac{x+y}{2}\right)\bigl(\psi_{1}(x)-\psi_{2}(y)\bigr)=0, \qquad x\in I_{1},\; y\in I_{2},\tag{1}\N\]\Nwhere \(I_{1},I_{2}\subset\mathbb{R}\) are nonempty open intervals and \(J=\frac{1}{2}(I_{1}+I_{2})\), for the unknown functions are \(\psi_{1}\colon I_{1}\to\mathbb R\), \(\psi_{2}\colon I_{2}\to\mathbb R\) and \(\varphi\colon J\to\mathbb R\).\N\NThe motivation arises from the study of the invariance problem of generalized weighted quasi-arithmetic means (in other terminology, Matkowski means). The functional equation (1) appears as a key component in the equivalence problem for such means and is closely connected to a functional equation introduced by \textit{T. Kiss} [Aequationes Math. 96, No. 5, 1089--1124 (2022; Zbl 1502.39013)]. Earlier results provided a characterization of the solutions under the assumption that the zero set of \(\varphi\) is closed. This paper examines whether one may weaken that condition to the Darboux property or measurability assumptions.\N\NThe author constructs a counterexample showing that assuming only the Darboux property for the functions does not guarantee the structure previously obtained by T. Kiss [loc. cit.]. Using a Hamel basis, the paper presents a nontrivial solution \((\varphi,\psi_{1},\psi_{2})\) where all three functions are Darboux yet \textit{nowhere continuous} and none of them is constant on any open interval. This gives a negative answer to a question raised at the 59th ISFE (see [Aequationes Math. 97, No. 5--6, 1259--1290 (2023; Zbl 07784716)]).\N\NThe main part of the paper classifies the solutions under the assumption that \(\varphi\) is Lebesgue measurable. A key tool is Steinhaus's theorem, which ensures strong local structure for sets of positive measure. The results show that, although measurable solutions may still be irregular, \(\varphi\) can misbehave only on a null set.\N\NIf \(\varphi\) is additionally assumed to be a derivative of a differentiable function, the author completes the characterization. Here, if \(\varphi\) is zero almost everywhere on an interval, then \(\varphi\) must vanish identically there. This stronger regularity allows a fully symmetric ``if and only if description analogous to earlier theorems under stronger assumptions.

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