Problem: Let N be the set of positive integers. Let f:N→N be a function such that for every n∈N f(n)−n<2021 and f(n)f(f(⋯f(f(n))⋯))=n Prove that f(n)=n for infinitely many n∈N.
Solution
Solution: We first prove that f is surjective. This follows directly from the second condition since for all a∈N we have b=f(a)−1f(f(⋯f(f(a))⋯))⟹f(b)=a Now pick any prime p>2021 and n with f(n)=p. Now apply f to the second condition to get p=f(n)=p+1f(f(⋯f(f(n))⋯))=pf(f(⋯f(f(p))⋯)) Instead setting n=p in the second condition we find that p=f(p)f(f(⋯f(f(p))⋯)) as well. Now let dp be the smallest positive integer such that p=dpf(f(⋯f(f(p))⋯)). It follows that dp∣p,f(p) since otherwise we would obtain a smaller value of dp by repeatedly substituting this expression in the two equations above. Now if dp=1 we have f(p)=p and if dp=p we have f(p)−p<2021<p using the first condition and we find f(p)=p as well. We conclude that every prime p>2021 satisfies f(p)=p and since there is an infinite number of such primes, this solves the problem.
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