Problem:
For what positive integers do there exist functions such that for each , either or , but not both?
Problem:
For what positive integers do there exist functions such that for each , either or , but not both?
Solution:
Answer: even
We claim that this is possible for all even . First, a construction: set and for . It is easy to verify that this solution works.
Now, we show that this is impossible for odd . Without loss of generality, suppose that and that . Then, we have . Consequently, . In this case, call and a pair (we likewise regard and as a pair when and ). Now, to show that is even it suffices to show that all pairs are disjoint. Suppose for the sake of contradiction that some integer is also in a pair with (note that is arbitrary). Then, we have , or , . But we already know that , so we must have , . But that would mean that both and , a contradiction.