Let $p$ be a prime such that $2$ is a primitive root of $p$. We want to find a bijective function $f: (\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z})^× \to (\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z})^× $ s.t.
$$f(2k) = f(k) + f(f(k)) $$ $$f(-k) = -f(k)$$
As far as I could compute $f = Id$ seems to be the only solution.
Original motivation comes from doing some constructions on Coxeter groups. We didn't need $2$ to be a primitive root but there are non-trivial solution in that case (for $p=17$ we have a solution with $f(1) = f(3) = 1$ & some more) so I'll analyse them later. We also didn't need $f$ to be bijective but you can show the preimages have a coset-like behaviour and I have shown $|Im(f)|\neq 2,4,6$ for large $p$.
I'm hoping we can show the bijectivity eventually but for now let's assume it. (see comments)
Such question doesn't seem to be available in literature. I could find 1. Functional Equations $f:G \to \mathbb{C}$ for some group $G$ and 2. Additive Combinatorial statements about sum of permutations, none of which seems to help yet.
I have gather some very small insignificant constraints for $p>5$ (let me add them from my memory. I'll add more when I get to my notes). Note that I'm looking for non-trivial solutions so I'm trying to avoid $f=Id$ too:
- If $f$ is a solution then so is $afa^{-1} \quad a \in (\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z})^×$
- $f(k) \neq k,-k,2k,-2k$ for any $k$
We can derive more using these, for instance,
- $f(2k) \neq -f(k), f(k), 2 f(k), 3f(k)$ for any $k$
- if there's no solution with $f(1)=t$ then there's no solution with $f(k)=tk$ for any $k$
- Let $m$ be s.t. $(m,p-1)=1$. If any non-trivial solutions exist then we can find one which satisfies $f(k2^m) \neq f(k)2^m $
(More from my notes)
- $f$ as a permutation has no $2$-cycles
- If for some $a$, $f(a) = 4a$ then $f(2a) = -a \ \& \ f(4a) = -5a$
Been stuck on this for weeks so I'd appreciate any kind of help, including small insights, your computations, your own literature search and attempts, etc.
Thanks in advance!