1. Introduction and preliminaries

The concept of statistical convergence for sequences of real numbers was introduced by Fast [1] and Steinhaus [2] independently and since then several generalizations and applications of this notion have been investigated by various authors (see [37]). This notion was defined in normed spaces by Kolk [8].

We recall some basic facts concerning Fré chet spaces.

Definition 1.1. [9] Let X be a vector space. A paranorm P : X → [0, ∞) is a function on X such that

  1. (1)

    P(0) = 0;

  2. (2)

    P(-x) = P(x);

  3. (3)

    P(x + y) ≤ P(x) + P(y) (triangle inequality)

  4. (4)

    If {t n } is a sequence of scalars with t n t and {x n } ⊂ X with P(x n - x) → 0, then P(t n x n - tx) → 0 (continuity of multiplication).

The pair (X, P) is called a paranormed space if P is a paranorm on X.

The paranorm is called total if, in addition, we have

  1. (5)

    P(x) = 0 implies x = 0.

A Fréchet space is a total and complete paranormed space.

The stability problem of functional equations originated from a question of Ulam [10] concerning the stability of group homomorphisms. Hyers [11] gave a first affirmative partial answer to the question of Ulam for Banach spaces. Hyers' theorem was generalized by Aoki [12] for additive mappings and by Rassias [13] for linear mappings by considering an unbounded Cauchy difference. A generalization of Rassias' theorem was obtained by Găvruta [14] by replacing the unbounded Cauchy difference by a general control function in the spirit of Rassias' approach.

In 1990, Rassias [15] during the 27th International Symposium on Functional Equations asked the question whether such a theorem can also be proved for p ≥ 1. In 1991, Gajda [16] following the same approach as in Rassias [13], gave an affirmative solution to this question for p > 1. It was shown by Gajda [16], as well as by Rassias and Šemrl [17] that one cannot prove a Rassias-type theorem when p = 1 (cf. the books of Czerwik [18], Hyers et al. [19]).

In 1982, Rassias [20] followed the innovative approach of the Rassias' theorem [13] in which he replaced the factor ∥xp+ ∥ypby ∥xp· ∥yqfor p, q ∈ ℝ with p + q ≠ 1.

The functional equation

f ( x + y ) + f ( x - y ) = 2 f ( x ) + 2 f ( y )

is called a quadratic functional equation. In particular, every solution of the quadratic functional equation is said to be a quadratic mapping. A Hyers-Ulam stability problem for the quadratic functional equation was proved by Skof [21] for mappings f : XY, where X is a normed space and Y is a Banach space. Cholewa [22] noticed that the theorem of Skof is still true if the relevant domain X is replaced by an Abelian group. Czerwik [23] proved the Hyers-Ulam stability of the quadratic functional equation. The stability problems of several functional equations have extensively been investigated by a number of authors and there are many interesting results concerning this problem (see [2430]).

Jun and Kim [31] considered the following cubic functional equation

f ( 2 x + y ) + f ( 2 x - y ) = 2 f ( x + y ) + 2 f ( x - y ) + 12 f ( x ) .
(1.1)

It is easy to show that the function f(x) = x3 satisfies the functional equation (1.1), which is called a cubic functional equation and every solution of the cubic functional equation is said to be a cubic mapping.

Lee et al. [32] considered the following quartic functional equation

f ( 2 x + y ) + f ( 2 x - y ) = 4 f ( x + y ) + 4 f ( x - y ) + 24 f ( x ) - 6 f ( y ) .
(1.2)

It is easy to show that the function f(x) = x4 satisfies the functional equation (1.2), which is called a quartic functional equation and every solution of the quartic functional equation is said to be a quartic mapping.

Throughout this article, assume that (X, P) is a Fré chet space and that (Y, ∥ · ∥) is a Banach space.

In this article, we prove the Hyers-Ulam stability of the following additive-quadratic-cubic-quartic functional equation

f ( x + 2 y ) + f ( x - 2 y ) = 4 f ( x + y ) + 4 f ( x - y ) - 6 f ( x ) + f ( 2 y ) + f ( - 2 y ) - 4 f ( y ) - 4 f ( - y )
(1.3)

in paranormed spaces.

One can easily show that an odd mapping f : XY satisfies (1.3) if and only if the odd mapping f : XY is an additive-cubic mapping, i.e.,

f ( x + 2 y ) + f ( x - 2 y ) = 4 f ( x + y ) + 4 f ( x - y ) - 6 f ( x ) .

It was shown in [[33], Lemma 2.2] that g(x) := f(2x) - 2f(x) and h(x) := f(2x) - 8f(x) are cubic and additive, respectively, and that f ( x ) = 1 6 g ( x ) - 1 6 h ( x ) .

One can easily show that an even mapping f : XY satisfies (1.3) if and only if the even mapping f : XY is a quadratic-quartic mapping, i.e.,

f ( x + 2 y ) + f ( x - 2 y ) = 4 f ( x + y ) + 4 f ( x - y ) - 6 f ( x ) + 2 f ( 2 y ) - 8 f ( y ) .

It was shown in [[34], Lemma 2.1] that g(x) := f(2x) - 4f(x) and h(x) := f(2x) - 16f(x) are quartic and quadratic, respectively, and that f ( x ) = 1 12 g ( x ) - 1 12 h ( x ) .

2. Hyers-Ulam stability of the functional equation (1.3): an odd mapping case

For a given mapping f, we define

D f ( x , y ) : = f ( x + 2 y ) + f ( x - 2 y ) - 4 f ( x + y ) - 4 f ( x - y ) + 6 f ( x ) - f ( 2 y ) - f ( - 2 y ) + 4 f ( y ) + 4 f ( - y ) .

In this section, we prove the Hyers-Ulam stability of the functional equation Df(x, y) = 0 in paranormed spaces: an odd mapping case.

Note that P(2x) ≤ 2P(x) for all xY.

Theorem 2.1. Let r, θ be positive real numbers with r > 1, and let f : YX be an odd mapping such that

P ( D f ( x , y ) ) θ ( x r + y r )
(2.1)

for all x, yY. Then there exists a unique additive mapping A : YX such that

P ( f ( 2 x ) - 8 f ( x ) - A ( x ) ) 2 r + 9 2 r - 2 θ x r
(2.2)

for all xY.

Proof. Letting x = y in (2.1), we get

P ( f ( 3 y ) - 4 f ( 2 y ) + 5 f ( y ) ) 2 θ y r
(2.3)

for all yY.

Replacing x by 2y in (2.1), we get

P ( f ( 4 y ) - 4 f ( 3 y ) + 6 f ( 2 y ) - 4 f ( y ) ) ( 2 p + 1 ) θ y r
(2.4)

for all yY.

By (2.3) and (2.4),

P ( f ( 4 y ) - 10 f ( 2 y ) + 16 f ( y ) ) P ( 4 ( f ( 3 y ) - 4 f ( 2 y ) + 5 f ( y ) ) ) + P ( f ( 4 y ) - 4 f ( 3 y ) + 6 f ( 2 y ) - 4 f ( y ) ) 4 P ( f ( 3 y ) - 4 f ( 2 y ) + 5 f ( y ) ) + P ( f ( 4 y ) - 4 f ( 3 y ) + 6 f ( 2 y ) - 4 f ( y ) ) 8 θ y r + ( 2 r + 1 ) θ y r = ( 2 r + 9 ) θ y r
(2.5)

for all yY. Replacing y by x 2 and letting g(x) := f(2x) - 8f(x) in (2.5), we get

P g ( x ) - 2 g x 2 2 r + 9 2 r θ x r

for all xY. Hence

P 2 l g x 2 l - 2 m g x 2 m j = l m - 1 ( 2 r + 9 ) 2 j 2 r j + r θ x r
(2.6)

for all nonnegative integers m and l with m > l and all xY. It follows from (2.6) that the sequence { 2 k g ( x 2 k ) } is Cauchy for all xY. Since X is complete, the sequence { 2 k g ( x 2 k ) } converges. So one can define the mapping A : YX by

A ( x ) : = lim k 2 k g x 2 k

for all xY.

By (2.1),

P ( D A ( x , y ) ) = lim k P 2 k D g x 2 k , y 2 k 2 k θ 2 r k ( 2 r + 8 ) ( x r + y r ) = 0

for all x, yY. So DA(x, y) = 0. Since g : YX is odd, A : YX is odd. So the mapping A : YX is additive. Moreover, letting l = 0 and passing the limit m → ∞ in (2.6), we get (2.2). So there exists an additive mapping A : YX satisfying (2.2).

Now, let T : YX be another additive mapping satisfying (2.2). Then we have

P ( A ( x ) - T ( x ) ) = P 2 p A x 2 q - 2 q T x 2 q P 2 q A x 2 q - g x 2 q + P 2 q T x 2 q - g x 2 q 2 ( 2 r + 9 ) 2 q ( 2 r - 2 ) 2 r q θ x r ,

which tends to zero as q → ∞ for all xY. So we can conclude that A(x) = T(x) for all xY. This proves the uniqueness of A. Thus the mapping A : YX is a unique additive mapping satisfying (2.2).

Theorem 2.2. Let r be a positive real number with r < 1, and let f : XY be an odd mapping such that

D f ( x , y ) P ( x ) r + P ( y ) r
(2.7)

for all x, yX. Then there exists a unique additive mapping A : XY such that

f ( 2 x ) - 8 f ( x ) - A ( x ) 9 + 2 r 2 - 2 r P ( x ) r
(2.8)

for all xX.

Proof. Letting x = y in (2.7), we get

f ( 3 y ) - 4 f ( 2 y ) + 5 f ( y ) 2 P ( y ) r
(2.9)

for all yX.

Replacing x by 2y in (2.7), we get

f ( 4 y ) - 4 f ( 3 y ) + 6 f ( 2 y ) - 4 f ( y ) ( 2 p + 1 ) P ( y ) r
(2.10)

for all yX.

By (2.9) and (2.10),

f ( 4 y ) - 10 f ( 2 y ) + 16 f ( y ) 4 ( f ( 3 y ) - 4 f ( 2 y ) + 5 f ( y ) ) + f ( 4 y ) - 4 f ( 3 y ) + 6 f ( 2 y ) - 4 f ( y ) 4 f ( 3 y ) - 4 f ( 2 y ) + 5 f ( y ) + f ( 4 y ) - 4 f ( 3 y ) + 6 f ( 2 y ) - 4 f ( y ) 8 P ( y ) r + ( 2 r + 1 ) P ( y ) r = ( 2 r + 9 ) P ( y ) r
(2.11)

for all yX. Replacing y by x and letting g(x) := f(2x) - 8f(x) in (2.11), we get

g ( x ) - 1 2 g ( 2 x ) 2 r + 9 2 P ( x ) r

for all xX. Hence

1 2 l g ( 2 l x ) - 1 2 m g ( 2 m x ) j = l m - 1 ( 2 r + 9 ) 2 r j 2 j + 1 P ( x ) r
(2.12)

for all nonnegative integers m and l with m > l and all xX. It follows from (2.12) that the sequence { 1 2 k g ( 2 k x ) } is Cauchy for all xX. Since Y is complete, the sequence { 1 2 k g ( 2 k x ) } converges. So one can define the mapping A : XY by

A ( x ) : = lim k 1 2 k g ( 2 k x )

for all xX.

By (2.7),

D A ( x , y ) = lim k 1 2 k D g ( 2 k x , 2 k y ) 2 r k 2 k ( 2 r + 8 ) ( P ( x ) r + P ( y ) r ) = 0

for all x, yX. So DA(x, y) = 0. Since g : XY is odd, A : XY is odd. So the mapping A : XY is additive. Moreover, letting l = 0 and passing the limit m → ∞ in (2.12), we get (2.8). So there exists an additive mapping A : XY satisfying (2.8).

Now, let T : XY be another additive mapping satisfying (2.8). Then we have

A ( x ) - T ( x ) = 1 2 q A ( 2 q x ) - 1 2 q T ( 2 q x ) 1 2 q ( A ( 2 q x ) - g ( 2 q x ) ) + 1 2 q ( T ( 2 q x ) - g ( 2 q x ) ) 2 ( 9 + 2 r ) 2 r q ( 2 - 2 r ) 2 q P ( x ) r ,

which tends to zero as q → ∞ for all xX. So we can conclude that A(x) = T(x) for all xX. This proves the uniqueness of A. Thus the mapping A : XY is a unique additive mapping satisfying (2.8).

Theorem 2.3. Let r, θ be positive real numbers with r > 3, and let f : YX be an odd mapping satisfying (2.1). Then there exists a unique cubic mapping C : YX such that

P ( f ( 2 x ) - 2 f ( x ) - C ( x ) ) 2 r + 9 2 r - 8 θ x r

for all xY.

Proof. Replacing y by x 2 and letting g(x) := f(2x) - 2f(x) in (2.5), we get

P g ( x ) - 8 g x 2 2 r + 9 2 r θ x r

for all xY.

The rest of the proof is similar to the proof of Theorem 2.1.

Theorem 2.4. Let r be a positive real number with r < 3, and let f : XY be an odd mapping satisfying (2.7). Then there exists a unique cubic mapping C : XY such that

f ( 2 x ) - 2 f ( x ) - C ( x ) 9 + 2 r 8 - 2 r P ( x ) r

for all xX.

Proof. Replacing y by x and letting g(x) := f(2x) - 2f(x) in (2.11), we get

g ( x ) - 1 8 g ( 2 x ) 2 r + 9 8 P ( x ) r

for all xX.

The rest of the proof is similar to the proof of Theorem 2.2.

3. Hyers-Ulam stability of the functional equation (1.3): an even mapping case

In this section, we prove the Hyers-Ulam stability of the functional equation Df(x, y) = 0 in paranormed spaces: an even mapping case.

Note that P(2x) ≤ 2P(x) for all xY.

Theorem 3.1. Let r, θ be positive real numbers with r > 2, and let f : YX be an even mapping satisfying f(0) = 0 and (2.1). Then there exists a unique quadratic mapping Q2 : YX such that

P ( f ( 2 x ) - 16 f ( x ) - Q 2 ( x ) ) 2 r + 9 2 r - 4 θ x r

for all xY.

Proof. Letting x = y in (2.1), we get

P ( f ( 3 y ) - 6 f ( 2 y ) + 15 f ( y ) ) 2 θ y r
(3.1)

for all yY.

Replacing x by 2y in (2.1), we get

P ( f ( 4 y ) - 4 f ( 3 y ) + 4 f ( 2 y ) + 4 f ( y ) ) ( 2 r + 1 ) θ y r
(3.2)

for all yY.

By (3.1) and (3.2),

P ( f ( 4 y ) - 20 f ( 2 y ) + 64 f ( y ) ) P ( 4 ( f ( 3 y ) - 6 f ( 2 y ) + 15 f ( y ) ) ) + P ( f ( 4 y ) - 4 f ( 3 y ) + 4 f ( 2 y ) + 4 f ( y ) ) 4 P ( f ( 3 y ) - 6 f ( 2 y ) + 15 f ( y ) ) + P ( f ( 4 y ) - 4 f ( 3 y ) + 4 f ( 2 y ) + 4 f ( y ) ) 8 θ y r + ( 2 r + 1 ) θ y r = ( 2 p + 9 ) θ y r
(3.3)

for all yY. Replacing y by x 2 and letting g(x) := f(2x) - 16f(x) in (3.3), we get

P g ( x ) - 4 g x 2 2 r + 9 2 r θ x r

for all xY.

The rest of the proof is similar to the proof of Theorem 2.1.

Theorem 3.2. Let r be a positive real number with r < 2, and let f : XY be an even mapping satisfying f(0) = 0 and (2.7). Then there exists a unique quadratic mapping Q2 : XY such that

f ( 2 x ) - 16 f ( x ) - Q 2 ( x ) 9 + 2 r 4 - 2 r P ( x ) r
(3.4)

for all xX.

Proof. Letting x = y in (2.7), we get

f ( 3 y ) - 6 f ( 2 y ) + 15 f ( y ) 2 P ( y ) r
(3.5)

for all yX.

Replacing x by 2y in (2.7), we get

f ( 4 y ) - 4 f ( 3 y ) + 4 f ( 2 y ) + 4 f ( y ) ( 2 r + 1 ) P ( y ) r
(3.6)

for all yX.

By (3.5) and (3.6),

f ( 4 y ) - 20 f ( 2 y ) + 64 f ( y ) 4 ( f ( 3 y ) - 6 f ( 2 y ) + 15 f ( y ) ) + f ( 4 y ) - 4 f ( 3 y ) + 4 f ( 2 y ) + 4 f ( y ) 4 f ( 3 y ) - 6 f ( 2 y ) + 15 f ( y ) + f ( 4 y ) - 4 f ( 3 y ) + 4 f ( 2 y ) + 4 f ( y ) 8 P ( y ) r + ( 2 r + 1 ) P ( y ) r = ( 2 p + 9 ) P ( y ) r
(3.7)

for all yX. Replacing y by x and letting g(x) := f(2x) - 16f(x) in (3.7), we get

g ( x ) - 1 4 g ( 2 x ) 2 r + 9 4 P ( x ) r

for all xX.

The rest of the proof is similar to the proof of Theorem 2.2.

Theorem 3.3. Let r, θ be positive real numbers with r > 4, and let f : YX be an even mapping satisfying f(0) = 0 and (2.1). Then there exists a unique quartic mapping Q4 : YX such that

P ( f ( 2 x ) - 4 f ( x ) - Q 4 ( x ) ) 2 r + 9 2 r - 16 θ x r

for all xY.

Proof. Replacing y by x 2 and letting g(x) := f(2x) - 4f(x) in (3.3), we get

P g ( x ) - 16 g x 2 2 r + 9 2 r θ x r

for all xY.

The rest of the proof is similar to the proof of Theorem 2.1.

Theorem 3.4. Let r be a positive real number with r < 4, and let f : XY be an even mapping satisfying f(0) = 0 and (2.7). Then there exists a unique quartic mapping Q4 : XY such that

f ( 2 x ) - 4 f ( x ) - Q 4 ( x ) 9 + 2 r 16 - 2 r P ( x ) r

for all xX.

Proof. Replacing y by x and letting g(x) := f(2x) - 4f(x) in (3.7), we get

g ( x ) - 1 16 g ( 2 x ) 2 r + 9 16 P ( x ) r

for all xX.

The rest of the proof is similar to the proof of Theorem 2.2.

Let f o ( x ) := f ( x ) - f ( - x ) 2 and f e ( x ) := f ( x ) + f ( - x ) 2 . Then f o is odd and f e is even. f o , f e satisfy the functional equation (1.3). Let g o (x) := f o (2x) - 2f o (x) and h o (x) := f o (2x) - 8f o (x). Then f o ( x ) = 1 6 g o ( x ) - 1 6 h o ( x ) . Let g e (x) := f e (2x) - 4f e (x) and h e (x) := f e (2x) - 16f e (x). Then f e ( x ) = 1 12 g e ( x ) - 1 12 h e ( x ) . Thus

f ( x ) = 1 6 g o ( x ) - 1 6 h o ( x ) + 1 12 g e ( x ) - 1 12 h e ( x ) .

Theorem 3.5. Let r, θ be positive real numbers with r > 4. Let f : YX be a mapping satisfying f(0) = 0 and (2.1). Then there exist an additive mapping A : YX, a quadratic mapping Q2 : YX, a cubic mapping C : YX and a quartic mapping Q4 : YX such that

P ( 24 f ( x ) - 4 A ( x ) - 2 Q 2 ( x ) - 4 C ( x ) - 2 Q 4 ( x ) ) 4 ( 2 r + 9 ) 2 r - 2 + 2 ( 2 r + 9 ) 2 r - 4 + 4 ( 2 r + 9 ) 2 r - 8 + 2 ( 2 r + 9 ) 2 r - 16 θ x r

for all xY.

Theorem 3.6. Let r be a positive real number with r < 1. Let f : XY be a mapping satisfying f(0) = 0 and (2.7). Then there exist an additive mapping A : XY, a quadratic mapping Q2 : XY, a cubic mapping C : XY and a quartic mapping Q4 : XY such that

24 f ( x ) - 4 A ( x ) - 2 Q 2 ( x ) - 4 C ( x ) - 2 Q 4 ( x ) 4 ( 2 r + 9 ) 2 - 2 r + 2 ( 2 r + 9 ) 4 - 2 r + 4 ( 2 r + 9 ) 8 - 2 r + 2 ( 2 r + 9 ) 16 - 2 r P ( x ) r

for all xX.