Given two positive integers and , show that there exist a positive integer and a set of at least multiples of such that the numbers , , are all odd; is the sum of all positive divisors of (1 and inclusive).
Solution
Let , where is a non-negative integer and is odd, and let be the highest power of dividing . Let be odd primes not dividing (e.g., let each ), and let be an integer such that , where is Euler's totient function. If is one of the divisors of the product , and , then is a multiple of , since , and
since is odd. Hence,
is an odd integer, by Euler's theorem. Finally, since there are such , one for each divisor of the product , it is sufficient to consider an integer to produce a set of at least multiples of satisfying the required condition; plainly, does not depend on .
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