A Strange Function.

Let f : N N f : N→N be a function such that

a. f ( m ) < f ( n ) f(m)<f(n) whenever m < n m<n

b. f ( 2 n ) = f ( n ) + n f(2n)=f(n)+n

c. n n is a prime number whenever f ( n ) f(n) is a prime number.

Find f ( 2014 ) f(2014) .


The answer is 2014.

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2 solutions

Souryajit Roy
Jul 2, 2014

It is easy to see f ( 2 ) = f ( 1 ) + 1 f(2)=f(1)+1 and f ( 4 ) = f ( 1 ) + 3 f(4)=f(1)+3 .Conclude that f ( 3 ) = f ( 1 ) + 2 f(3)=f(1)+2 .By induction,get f ( n ) = f ( 1 ) + n 1 f(n)=f(1)+n-1 .

Suppose f ( 1 ) = k > 1 f(1)=k>1 .

Note that the numbers ( k + 1 ) ! + 2 , ( k + 1 ) ! + 3 , . . . . , ( k + 1 ) ! + ( k + 1 ) (k+1)!+2,(k+1)!+3,....,(k+1)!+(k+1) are all composite.

Take the least prime p p exceeding ( k + 1 ) ! + ( k + 1 ) (k+1)!+(k+1) .

Set n = p k + 1 n=p-k+1 .Then p = f ( n ) p=f(n) and hence n n is a prime.

But n > ( k + 1 ) ! + 2 n>(k+1)!+2 and hence p > n > ( k + 1 ) ! + ( k + 1 ) p>n>(k+1)!+(k+1) .This contradicts the minimality of p p .

Conclude f ( 1 ) = 1 f(1)=1 and hence f ( n ) = n f(n)=n for all natural numbers n n .

Now that is a solution !

Shakti Kheria - 6 years, 10 months ago
Austin Stromme
Jul 12, 2014

A simple solution is as follows: one such functions is the identity f ( n ) = n f(n) = n . Since this function satisfies all the given properties, it must be that it is a solution. Hence f ( 2014 ) = 2014 f(2014) = 2014 .

This is exactly why functional equation problems with trivial solutions like this shouldn't be a short answer question.

Ivan Koswara - 6 years, 11 months ago

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