Difference between revisions of "1998 IMO Problems/Problem 3"

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of n (including 1 and n itself). Determine all positive integers k such that
 
of n (including 1 and n itself). Determine all positive integers k such that
 
<math>d(n^2)/d(n) = k</math> for some n.
 
<math>d(n^2)/d(n) = k</math> for some n.
 
===Solution===
 
 
First we must determine general values for d(n):
 
Let <math>n=P1^(A1) * P2^(A2) * .. * Pc^(Ac)</math>, if d is an arbitrary divisor of n then d must have the same prime factors of n, each with an exponent <math>Bi</math> being: <math>0\leq Bi\leq Ai</math>.
 
Hence there are <math>Ai + 1</math> choices for each exponent of Pi in the number d => there are <math>(A1 + 1)(A2 + 1)..(Ac + 1)</math> such d
 
 
=> <math>d(n) = (A1 + 1)(A2+1)..(Ac+1)</math> where Ai are exponents of the prime numbers in the prime factorisation of n.
 
 
=> <math>d(n^2)/d(n) = {(2A1 + 1)(2A2 + 1)..(2Ac + 1)}/{A1+1)..(Ac+1)}
 
 
So we want to find all integers k that can be represented by the product of fractions of the form </math>(2n+1)/(n+1)<math>
 
Obviously k is odd as the numerator is always odd.
 
It's possible for 1 (1/1) and 3 (5/3 * 9/5), which suggests that it may be possible for all odd integers, which we can show by induction.
 
 
P(k): It's possible to represent k as the product of fractions </math>(2n+1)/(n+1)<math>
 
Base case: k = 1: (2(0) + 1) / (0 + 1)
 
Now assume that for </math>k\geq 3<math> it's possible for all odds < k.
 
 
Since k is odd, </math>k+1 = 2^z * y$ where y is odd and y < k
 

Revision as of 01:28, 2 April 2022

Problem

For any positive integer n, let d(n) denote the number of positive divisors of n (including 1 and n itself). Determine all positive integers k such that $d(n^2)/d(n) = k$ for some n.