Functional Equation and Composition

CAT 2022 Slot 2 · Quantitative Ability · Hard · Algebra

Suppose for all integers xx, there are two functions ff and gg such that f(x)+f(x−1)−1=0f(x) + f(x-1) - 1 = 0 and g(x)=x2g(x) = x^2. If f(x2−x)=5f(x^2 - x) = 5, then the value of the sum f(g(5))+g(f(5))f(g(5)) + g(f(5)) is

Answer

12

Explanation

Given f(x)+f(x−1)=1f(x) + f(x-1) = 1. Substituting x−1x-1 into the relation: f(x−1)+f(x−2)=1f(x-1) + f(x-2) = 1. Subtracting the two equations gives f(x)−f(x−2)=0  ⟹  f(x)=f(x−2)f(x) - f(x-2) = 0 \implies f(x) = f(x-2). Thus ff is periodic with period 2. So f(n)f(n) depends only on whether nn is even or odd. Note x2−x=x(x−1)x^2 - x = x(x-1) is always an even integer for any integer xx. So f(even)=5f(\text{even}) = 5. Since f(even)+f(odd)=1f(\text{even}) + f(\text{odd}) = 1, 5+f(odd)=1  ⟹  f(odd)=−45 + f(\text{odd}) = 1 \implies f(\text{odd}) = -4. Now g(5)=52=25g(5) = 5^2 = 25 (odd). So f(g(5))=f(25)=−4f(g(5)) = f(25) = -4. Also f(5)=−4f(5) = -4, so g(f(5))=g(−4)=(−4)2=16g(f(5)) = g(-4) = (-4)^2 = 16. Therefore, f(g(5))+g(f(5))=−4+16=12f(g(5)) + g(f(5)) = -4 + 16 = 12.

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