With a non-zero number, the following operations are allowed: \(x \rightarrow \frac{1+x}{x}\), \(x \rightarrow \frac{1-x}{x}\). Is it true that from every non-zero rational number one can obtain each rational number with the help of a finite number of such operations?
Let \(f (x)\) be a polynomial about which it is known that the equation \(f (x) = x\) has no roots. Prove that then the equation \(f (f (x)) = x\) does not have any roots.
An iterative polyline serves as a geometric interpretation of the iteration process. To construct it, on the \(Oxy\) plane, the graph of the function \(f (x)\) is drawn and the bisector of the coordinate angle is drawn, as is the straight line \(y = x\). Then on the graph of the function the points \[A_0 (x_0, f (x_0)), A_1 (x_1, f (x_1)), \dots, A_n (x_n, f (x_n)), \dots\] are noted and on the bisector of the coordinate angle – the points \[B_0 (x_0, x_0), B_1 (x_1, x_1), \dots , B_n (x_n, x_n), \dots.\] The polygonal line \(B_0A_0B_1A_1 \dots B_nA_n \dots\) is called iterative.
Construct an iterative polyline from the following information:
a) \(f (x) = 1 + x/2\), \(x_0 = 0\), \(x_0 = 8\);
b) \(f (x) = 1/x\), \(x_0 = 2\);
c) \(f (x) = 2x - 1\), \(x_0 = 0\), \(x_0 = 1{,}125\);
d) \(f (x) = - 3x/2 + 6\), \(x_0 = 5/2\);
e) \(f (x) = x^2 + 3x - 3\), \(x_0 = 1\), \(x_0 = 0{,}99\), \(x_0 = 1{,}01\);
f) \(f (x) = \sqrt{1 + x}\), \(x_0 = 0\), \(x_0 = 8\);
g) \(f (x) = x^3/3 - 5x^2/x + 25x/6 + 3\), \(x_0 = 3\).
Prove that for a monotonically increasing function \(f (x)\) the equations \(x = f (f (x))\) and \(x = f (x)\) are equivalent.
Author: A.K. Tolpygo
An irrational number \(\alpha\), where \(0 <\alpha <\frac 12\), is given. It defines a new number \(\alpha_1\) as the smaller of the two numbers \(2\alpha\) and \(1 - 2\alpha\). For this number, \(\alpha_2\) is determined similarly, and so on.
a) Prove that for some \(n\) the inequality \(\alpha_n <3/16\) holds.
b) Can it be that \(\alpha_n> 7/40\) for all positive integers \(n\)?