Past exam of the year 1 of the computer science course of the University of Oxford / 2016 / Discrete mathematics, continuous mathematics and probability (resit) / 1 / e / ii / Solution

The algebraic identitysuggests $f(t)=t^3-3t$ for every $t>0$, and substitution verifies the functional equation.

In fact $x+1/x\ge 2$, since $(x-1{)}^2/x\ge 0$. Conversely, for each $t\ge 2$, the quadratic equation $x^2-tx+1=0$ has a positive root $(t+\sqrt{t^2-4})/2$. Thus the functional equation forces $f(t)=t^3-3t$ exactly on $[2,\infty )$; its values on $(0,2)$ are arbitrary. The displayed function is one convenient choice on the full required domain.