Measurable solutions of an alternative functional equation

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the functional equation \[ \varphi \left( \frac{x+y}{2} \right) \left( \psi_1(x) - \psi_2(y) \right) = 0 \hspace{20mm} \left( \mbox{ for all } x \in I_1 \mbox{ and } y \in I_2 \right) \] where $ I_1 \,, I_2 $ are open intervals of $ \mathbb{R} $, $ J = \frac{1}{2} \left( I_1 + I_2 \right) $ moreover $ \psi_1 : I_1 \rightarrow \mathbb{R} $, $ \psi_2 : I_2 \rightarrow \mathbb{R} $ and $ \varphi : J \rightarrow \mathbb{R} $ are unknown functions. We describe the structure of the possible solutions assuming that $ \varphi $ is measurable. In the case when $ \varphi $ is a derivative, we give a complete characterization of the solutions. Furthermore, we present an example of a solution consisting of irregular Darboux functions. This provides the answer to an open problem proposed during the 59th International Symposium on Functional Equations.