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

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===Problem===
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For any positive integer n, let d(n) denote the number of positive divisors
 
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
 
of n (including 1 and n itself). Determine all positive integers k such that
d(n^2)/d(n) = k for some n.
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<math>d(n^2)/d(n) = k</math> for some n.
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===Solution===
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First we must determine general values for d(n):
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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>.
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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
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=> <math>d(n) = (A1 + 1)(A2+1)..(Ac+1)</math> where Ai are exponents of the prime numbers in the prime factorisation of n.
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=> <math>d(n^2)/d(n) = {(2A1 + 1)(2A2 + 1)..(2Ac + 1)}/{A1+1)..(Ac+1)}
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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>
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Obviously k is odd as the numerator is always odd.
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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.
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P(k): It's possible to represent k as the product of fractions </math>(2n+1)/(n+1)<math>
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Base case: k = 1: (2(0) + 1) / (0 + 1)
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Now assume that for </math>k\geq 3<math> it's possible for all odds < k.
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Since k is odd, </math>k+1 = 2^z * y$ where y is odd and y < k

Revision as of 01:27, 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.

Solution

First we must determine general values for d(n): Let $n=P1^(A1) * P2^(A2) * .. * Pc^(Ac)$, if d is an arbitrary divisor of n then d must have the same prime factors of n, each with an exponent $Bi$ being: $0\leq Bi\leq Ai$. Hence there are $Ai + 1$ choices for each exponent of Pi in the number d => there are $(A1 + 1)(A2 + 1)..(Ac + 1)$ such d

=> $d(n) = (A1 + 1)(A2+1)..(Ac+1)$ where Ai are exponents of the prime numbers in the prime factorisation of n.

=> $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$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)(2n+1)/(n+1)$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$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)(2n+1)/(n+1)$Base case: k = 1: (2(0) + 1) / (0 + 1) Now assume that for$k\geq 3$it's possible for all odds < k.

Since k is odd,$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)k+1 = 2^z * y$ where y is odd and y < k