Algebraic conditions for additive functions over the reals and over finite fields

Abstract

Let $C$ be an affine plane curve. We consider additive functions $f: K\rightarrow K$ for which $f(x)f(y)=0$, whenever $(x,y)\in C$. We show that if $K=\mathbb{R}$ and $C$ is the hyperbola with defining equation $xy=1$, then there exist nonzero additive functions with this property. Moreover, we show that such a nonzero $f$ exists for a field $K$ if and only if $K$ is transcendental over $\mathbb{Q}$ or over $\mathbb{F}_p$, the finite field with $p$ elements. We also consider the general question when $K$ is a finite field. We show that if the degree of the curve $C$ is large enough compared to the characteristic of $K$, then $f$ must be identically zero.