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IMO Shortlist 2013, Number Theory #1
lyukhson   154
N May 11, 2025 by Markas
Source: IMO Shortlist 2013, Number Theory #1
Let $\mathbb{Z} _{>0}$ be the set of positive integers. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{Z} _{>0}\rightarrow \mathbb{Z} _{>0}$ such that
\[ m^2 + f(n) \mid mf(m) +n \]
for all positive integers $m$ and $n$.
154 replies
lyukhson
Jul 10, 2014
Markas
May 11, 2025
IMO Shortlist 2013, Number Theory #1
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Source: IMO Shortlist 2013, Number Theory #1
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lyukhson
127 posts
#1 • 28 Y
Y by Davi-8191, abab, Muaaz.SY, itslumi, mathematicsy, megarnie, rachelshi, jhu08, justJen, GeoMetrix, fluff_E, son7, Lamboreghini, Stuart111, hectorleo123, Adventure10, Mango247, trigadd123, ItsBesi, Akacool, rightways, pomodor_ap, cubres, farhad.fritl, and 4 other users
Let $\mathbb{Z} _{>0}$ be the set of positive integers. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{Z} _{>0}\rightarrow \mathbb{Z} _{>0}$ such that
\[ m^2 + f(n) \mid mf(m) +n \]
for all positive integers $m$ and $n$.
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nicetry007
149 posts
#2 • 59 Y
Y by shmm, LeoTheRetard, randomasdf97, ArseneLupin, ajd1234, quangminhltv99, test20, baladin, Illuzion, hiabc, tapir1729, dantaxyz, pad, Hypernova, Amir Hossein, MathBoy23, karitoshi, MahsaMorady, programjames1, mathleticguyyy, Bumblebee60, vsamc, mynameisbob12, Muaaz.SY, jchang0313, SlimTune, Kanep, snakeaid, centslordm, hakN, math31415926535, leozitz, HamstPan38825, rachelshi, jhu08, megarnie, Timmy456, ZHEKSHEN, trying_to_solve_br, TFIRSTMGMEDALIST, son7, veirab, pog, Mathlover_1, Lamboreghini, mathmax12, tony88, Adventure10, Mango247, Tellocan, EpicBird08, Assassino9931, Sedro, cubres, Rayanelba, farhad.fritl, and 3 other users
Setting $m = f(n)$, we get $f(n)^2 + f(n) \mid f(n)f(f(n)) + n \Rightarrow f(n) \mid n \Rightarrow f(n) \leq n \; \forall \; n \in \mathbb{N}$.
This implies $f(1) = 1$.
Setting $m=n$, we get $n^2 + f(n) \mid nf(n) + n \Rightarrow n^2+f(n) \leq nf(n) + n \Rightarrow n^2 - n \leq (n-1)f(n)$
This implies $n \leq f(n) \;\forall \; n \geq 2 \Rightarrow f(n) = n \; \forall n \in \mathbb{N}$.
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AkosS
113 posts
#3 • 11 Y
Y by Muaaz.SY, rachelshi, jhu08, megarnie, son7, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres, and 3 other users
Let $m=n$, then
\[m^2+f(m)|m(f(m)+1)\Rightarrow f(m)=\frac{k_m m^2-m}{m-k_m}\]
for some $k_m\in\mathbb{Z}^+$, so $1<k_m<m$ and thus $f(m)\leq m^3-m^2-m$, as with $k$ growing the numerator grows and the denominator shrinks, for $m=2$, this gives us $k=1$ and $f(2)=2$.

Now use $(2,m)$, then for some $l_m\in\mathbb{Z}^+$
\[4+f(m)|4+m\Rightarrow f(m)=\frac{m+4}{l_m}-4\leq m\]
Using $m=1$ and $m=3$ in $4+f(m)|4+m$ we get $f(1)=1$ and $f(3)=3$, so we can assume $m\geq 4$
Now look at the following:
\[\frac{m(mk_m-1)}{m-k_m}=f(m)\leq m\]
Use $k_m=2$, we get:
\[\frac{m(2m-1)}{m-2}-m=\frac{m(m+1)}{2}>0\]
This means that only $k_m=1$ can hold, meaning $f(m)=m$.
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alibez
358 posts
#4 • 10 Y
Y by rachelshi, jhu08, megarnie, son7, kamatadu, Adventure10, cubres, and 3 other users
lyukhson wrote:
Let $\mathbb{Z} _{>0}$ be the set of positive integers. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{Z} _{>0}\rightarrow \mathbb{Z} _{>0}$ such that
\[ m^2 + f(n) \mid mf(m) +n \]
for all positive integers $m$ and $n$.


we know : $f(p)^{2}+f(p)\mid f(p)f(f(p))+p\Rightarrow f(p)=1\: or\: p$ ($p$ is prime number)

$i)$ if we have Infinitely many prime numbers such that $f(p)=p$ so we have:

$m^{2}+p\mid mf(m)+p\Rightarrow m^{2}+p\mid mf(m)-m^{2}\Rightarrow mf(m)-m^{2}=0\rightarrow f(m)=m$

$ii)$ if we don't have Infinitely many prime numbers such that $f(p)=p$ !

$m=n=p\rightarrow p^{2}+1\mid 2p$ and it is not true for Infinitely many prime numbers . so $f(m)=m$ is unique solution.
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gobathegreat
741 posts
#5 • 8 Y
Y by rachelshi, jhu08, tony88, Adventure10, cubres, and 3 other users
lyukhson wrote:
Let $\mathbb{Z} _{>0}$ be the set of positive integers. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{Z} _{>0}\rightarrow \mathbb{Z} _{>0}$ such that
\[ m^2 + f(n) \mid mf(m) +n \]
for all positive integers $m$ and $n$.

Let $P(m,n)$ be assertion of $ m^2 + f(n) \mid mf(m) +n $
$P(f(n),n)$ implies $f(n)$ divides $n$ so $f(n) \leq n$ .This implies $f(1)=1$. Now suppose for some $n$ we have $f(n)=n$ (this is possible since $f(1)=1$). We will prove that $f(n+1)=n+1$.
Consider:
$P(n,n+1)$:
Then $ n^2 + f(n+1) \mid nf(n) +n+1 $ from which we obtain $f(n+1) \leq n+1$
$P(n+1,n)$:
Then $ (n+1)^2 + n \mid (n+1)f(n+1) +n $ from which we obtain $n+1 \leq f(n+1)$.Together this implies $f(n+1) \leq n+1 \leq f(n+1)$ so $f(n+1)=n+1$.
Since $f(1)=1$ we see that $f(n)=n$ for every positive integer $n$.
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mathuz
1525 posts
#6 • 8 Y
Y by Mathuzb, rachelshi, jhu08, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres, and 2 other users
It's inequality problem. We have that $f(n)\ge n$ and there exists $k\in N$ such that $f(k)\le n+f(1)-1<2k$. So $f(k)=k$. So for all $n\in N$ \[ f(n)=n. \]
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fclvbfm934
759 posts
#7 • 7 Y
Y by rachelshi, jhu08, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres, and 2 other users
Solution with thkim1011:
Let $m = n$ and we get $m^2 + f(m) | mf(m) + m$ so we have
\[m^2 + f(m) \le mf(m) + m\]
which rearranges to $f(m) \ge m$ for all $m \ge 2$. Now let $m = f(n)$ and we get
\[f(n)^2 + f(n) | f(f(n))\cdot f(n) + n\]
so $f(n) |n$ but $f(n) \ge n$, so the only viable possibility is $f(n) = n$ for $n \ge 2$. For $n = 1$, we have $f(1) | 1$, so $f(1) = 1$. It is easy to check that $f(n) = n$ satisfies the condition.
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Number1
355 posts
#8 • 8 Y
Y by MiMi1376, randomasdf97, rachelshi, Adventure10, cubres, and 3 other users
If we put $m=n$ we get $f(m)\geq m$ for all $m \geq 2$ (*).

If we put $m=n=2$ we get $4+f(2)|2f(2)+2$ and thus $f(2) =2$.

If we put $m=2$ we get $4+f(n)|4+n$ and thus $f(n)\leq n$ for all $n$ (**).

If we use (*) and (**) we get $f(n)=n$ for all $n$.
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MiMi1376
11 posts
#9 • 6 Y
Y by rachelshi, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres, and 2 other users
it was really easy!!!
this problem was proposed by Mohsen Jamaali
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math_genie
41 posts
#10 • 6 Y
Y by rachelshi, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres, and 2 other users
Nice solution everyone. Was quite easy :D

My first impression was it was very similar to IMO 2004 shortlist problem (N3). Indeed, the solution was very similar.

First, I noted that $f(n) = n$ was a solution (as almost always).
And I noticed that we need to just prove either $f(1) = 1$ or $f(p) = p$ for all $p$ prime.
(*)


[Taking $m = n = p$ gives us
$p^2 + f(p) \mid p(f(p) + 1)$
Since $p^2 + f(p)$ does not divide $f(p) + 1$ (as its bigger) thus,
$p \mid p^2 + f(p)$ i.e. $p \mid f(p)$
Therefore $f(p) \geq p$

If $f(1) = 1$ then take $m = 1$, $n = p$ and we get $1 + f(p) \mid p + 1$. Thus $f(p) = p$ for all p prime. (take inequality)
And, if we show $f(p) = p$, then taking m = p we get
$p^2 + f(n) \mid p^2 + n$
Thus $p^2 + f(n) \mid (n - f(n))$.
Choosing $p$ large enough, we get the quotient tends to 0. (as $n - f(n)$ is fixed but $p$ can be as large as you want).
Therefore, $f(n) = n$ for all $n$ in naturals]


To prove (*) - it didn't hit me to take $m = f(n)$ as nicetry007 did. (You could probably finish the proof like that)

Instead, what I did was the following:
Let $p$ be a prime and take $n = p$.
Let $q$ be a prime dividing $f(p)$, and take $m = q$. We get:

$q^2 + f(p) \mid qf(q) + p$
But $q\mid q^2 + f(p)$ !
Thus, we get $q \mid p$, or $p = q$.
So, we have $f(p) = p^i$, where $i$ depends on $p$.


Now, take $m = n = p$.
We get
$p^2 + p^i \mid p^{i+1} + p$.
(1)

Case 1 : $i \geq 3$
Easy contradiction to (1) as $p^2 | LHS$ but not the $RHS$.

Case 2: $ i = 2$
Then we get $2p^2 \mid p^3 + p$
or, $2p \mid p^2 + 1$, this means $p\mid1$. Contradiction.


Thus, $f(p) = p$ and we're done.
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AnonymousBunny
339 posts
#11 • 5 Y
Y by rachelshi, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres, and 1 other user
Plugging $m=n,$
\[m^2 + f(m) \leq mf(m) + m \implies m^2 + f(m) \leq mf(m) + m \implies m \leq f(m).\]
Plugging $n=f(m),$
\[f(m) \mid f(m)^2 + f(m) \mid mf(f(m)) + f(m) \implies  f(m) \mid m \implies f(m) \leq m.\]
Hence, $\boxed{f(m)=m \quad \forall \ m \in \mathbb{N}}.$
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numbertheorist17
268 posts
#12 • 5 Y
Y by girishvar12, rachelshi, Adventure10, cubres, and 1 other user
Solution
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codyj
723 posts
#13 • 7 Y
Y by rachelshi, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres, and 3 other users
Let $m=n$ to get $n^2+f(n)\mid nf(n)+n$, so $n^2+f(n)\le nf(n)+n$, or $f(n)\ge n$. In the case of $n=2$, $4+f(2)\mid 2f(2)+2$, and $\frac{2f(2)+2}{f(2)+4}=2-\frac6{f(2)+4}\in\mathbb{Z}$. Therefore, $f(2)+4\in\{-6,-3,-2,-1,1,2,3,6\}$, and the only solution with a positive $f(2)$ is $f(2)=2$. Let $m=2$ to get $2^2+f(n)\mid2f(2)+n$, so $4+f(n)\le2f(2)+n=4+n$, or $f(n)\le n$. Therefore, $f(n)=n$ is the only solution, and we can easily verify that $m^2+n\mid m^2+n$.
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smy2012
688 posts
#14 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, cubres
Very easy problem. :)
I find 2 solutions (the same as #8 and #11) at once. :D
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Dexenberg
143 posts
#15 • 6 Y
Y by rachelshi, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres, and 2 other users
$m=2;n=1  \Rightarrow 4+f(1) | 2f(2)+1 $
$m=1;n=2 \Rightarrow 1+f(2)|f(1)+2 \Rightarrow f(1)+1 \geq f(2) \Rightarrow$
$ 4+f(1) \geq \dfrac{2f(2)+1}{2} \Rightarrow 4+f(1)=2f(2)+1$, yielding to $1+f(2) | 2f(2)-1 \Rightarrow f(2)=2;f(1)=1$
$f(1)=1 -> 1+f(n) | n+1 \Rightarrow n \geq f(n); m^2+1 | mf(m)+1 \Rightarrow m \leq f(m)$, and now we have the conclusion: $f(x)=x$
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