Every Function Is The Sum of an Even and Odd Function

Theorem

Every function f:RR can be written as the sum of an even and an odd function.

Proof

Suppose f:RR is a function, and define

feven(x)=f(x)+f(x)2andfodd(x)=f(x)f(x)2.

As such,

feven(x)+fodd(x)=f(x)+f(x)2+f(x)f(x)2=f(x)

while we have that

feven(x)=f(x)+f(x)2=f(x)+f(x)2=feven(x)

and

fodd(x)=f(x)+f(x)2=f(x)f(x)2=fodd(x).

Thus fodd+feven=f is the decomposition of f as the sum of an even and odd function.