1 .

6 f ( x + c )= f

J e a n

d A l e m b e r t

( x )for all real c . This implies that f is a constant function, and therefore that f isa linear function of the for m f ( x )= ax + b . Substituting back into Cauchysequation, we deter mine that b = 0.T h i s a r g u m e n t i s n e , a s f a r a s i t g o e s . H o w e v e r , i t m a k e s a v e r y b i g assumption, namely that f can be

f o r a l l r ea l z and w . T his fu nct iona l equa t ion is ca lled Cauchys exponential equation , a n d w e m e e t i t a g a i n i n t h e n ex t c h a p t er . I t i s t e m p t i n g s i m p l y t o take logarithms in or der to turn it into (1.3). However, we have to be carefulto check that f ( z ) > 0 b ef o r e w e c a n s a y t h a t l o g f ( z ) i s m e a n i n g f u l . A s w e show, a solution to Cauchys exponential equation is either ever ywher e zer oo r i s e v e r y w h e r e s t r i c t l y p o s i t i v e . A s t h e l a t t er i s t h e c a s e h er e , w e c a n t a k e logar ithms to obtain the equation