Let be the set of triangular numbers, i.e. numbers of the form . Let be a function defined on the set of positive integers such that
1) is a positive integer for each ;
2) for any pair of coprime numbers;
3) for .
Prove that for all .
Solution
It is not difficult to find for small :
Now we use induction. Suppose that for all . Let us show that . Since is multiplicative we may assume that for some prime . Consider several similar cases.
1) . Then
And from the other hand
So we conclude that since by induction hypothesis.
and
Hence .
3) , where is an odd prime and . Similarly we have
Hence .
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