Let be a composite positive integer and let be the divisors of , where . Assume that all the equations , for have real solutions. Prove that for some prime number .
Solution
for any .
As is the smallest proper divisor of , it means that the number is the greatest proper divisor of , so . We have:
It follows that all inequalities (*) turn into equalities.
Thus, for any . It follows that the numbers (in this order) are consecutive terms of a geometric progression of ratio , so .
The lowest proper divisor of the composite number is a prime number , so , and .
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track
puts 2,000 problems in a working order, from AMC 10 level to the IMO shortlist.