Let be a function such that
a. whenever
b.
c. is a prime number whenever is a prime number.
Find .
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It is easy to see f ( 2 ) = f ( 1 ) + 1 and f ( 4 ) = f ( 1 ) + 3 .Conclude that f ( 3 ) = f ( 1 ) + 2 .By induction,get f ( n ) = f ( 1 ) + n − 1 .
Suppose f ( 1 ) = k > 1 .
Note that the numbers ( k + 1 ) ! + 2 , ( k + 1 ) ! + 3 , . . . . , ( k + 1 ) ! + ( k + 1 ) are all composite.
Take the least prime p exceeding ( k + 1 ) ! + ( k + 1 ) .
Set n = p − k + 1 .Then p = f ( n ) and hence n is a prime.
But n > ( k + 1 ) ! + 2 and hence p > n > ( k + 1 ) ! + ( k + 1 ) .This contradicts the minimality of p .
Conclude f ( 1 ) = 1 and hence f ( n ) = n for all natural numbers n .