Find all functions such that for all , where is the set of positive integers.
Solution
We shall show that for all . It suffices to show that is a strictly increasing function for if is a strictly increasing function, then for an arbitrary ,
Consider the set of integers . By the given condition, each member is bigger than another member , with as the only exception. Therefore is the smallest element of the set.
This argument can be extended. Let , for . Then is a set of positive integers. For , . This means is the smallest element of the set. Therefore for all . Continuing this way, we see that , i.e., the function is strictly increasing.
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