Freaky Function!

Algebra Level 3

A function f : N N f: \mathbb{N} \rightarrow \mathbb{N} is such that

1) f ( x y ) = f ( x ) f ( y ) f(xy)= f(x)f(y)

2) The function is strictly increasing.

3) f ( 2 ) = 2 f(2)=2

Find k = 1 20 f ( k ) \sum _{ k=1 }^{ 20 }{ f(k) }


The answer is 210.

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1 solution

Daniel Rabelo
Sep 19, 2015

Note the function is N to N. Sentence 2 implies that f ( n 1 ) < f ( n ) < f ( n + 1 ) f(n-1) < f(n) < f(n+1) .

So: 0 < 1 < 2 f ( 0 ) = 0 0<1<2 \rightarrow f(0)=0 and f ( 1 ) = 1 f(1)=1

Now, suppose you have two numbers that f ( k ) = k f(k)=k and f ( k + 1 ) = k + 1 f(k+1)=k+1 Then:

2 k < 2 k + 1 < 2 k + 2 2 f ( k ) < f ( 2 k + 1 ) < 2 f ( k + 1 ) 2k<2k+1<2k+2 \rightarrow 2f(k)<f(2k+1)<2f(k+1)

2 k < f ( 2 k + 1 ) < 2 k + 2 f ( 2 k + 1 ) = 2 k + 1 2k<f(2k+1)<2k+2 \rightarrow f(2k+1)=2k+1 .

This means that f ( k ) = k , f ( k + 1 ) = k + 1 f ( 2 k + 1 ) = 2 k + 1 f(k)=k, f(k+1)=k+1 \rightarrow f(2k+1)=2k+1 .

f ( 1 ) = 1 , f ( 2 ) = 2 f ( 3 ) = 3 , f ( 4 ) = 4 f(1)=1, f(2)=2 \rightarrow f(3)=3, f(4)=4

f ( 2 ) = 2 , f ( 3 ) = 3 f ( 5 ) = 5 , f ( 6 ) = 6 f(2)=2 ,f(3)=3 \rightarrow f(5)=5, f(6)=6

f ( 3 ) = 3 , f ( 4 ) = 4 f ( 7 ) = 7 , f ( 8 ) = 8 f(3)=3, f(4)=4 \rightarrow f(7)=7, f(8)=8 etc. Then f ( x ) = x f(x)=x for all naturals.

By A.P., the answer will be ( 1 + 20 ) 20 2 = 210 \frac{(1+20)20}{2}=210 .

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