Clearly f(x)=x is one solution. Furthermore, for any set A={a1,a2,…,a2024} consisting of 2024 distinct positive integers, any function f satisfying
{f(ai)=ai−1,f(x)∈A,where a0=a2024,for all x∈/A,
also satisfies the condition of the problem. Let us prove that the above are all the solutions.
Using all positive integers as points, and connecting x to f(x), we form a directed graph G (self-loops allowed). Note that if x can reach 2025 points, then any A containing x and f(x) would have ∣SA∣≥2025, a contradiction. This means that starting from x, we must enter a cycle within 2024 steps, and the size of this cycle is at most 2024.
Now, consider all points in G that lie on cycles. Let us consider the size of C.
Case 1. ∣C∣>2024:
Note that in this case there cannot be any x∈C such that f(x)=x; otherwise, take any A⊂C containing x but not f(x), then A⊂SA (note that all elements of A lie on cycles) and f(x)∈SA, so that A∪{f(x)}⊂SA⇒∣SA∣≥∣A∣+1>2024, a contradiction.
Hence we have f(x)=x for all x∈C. Now, if there is any y∈/C, since y must reach C within 2024 steps, there exists z∈/C such that f(z)∈C. If we take A={z,f(z),b1,…,b2022}, where bi are 2022 elements of C different from f(z), then SA=A−{z}, so that ∣SA∣=∣A∣−1<2024, a contradiction. Hence C=N, that is, f(x)=x.
Case 2. ∣C∣≤2024:
Since all x∈N must reach C within 2024 steps, and C is a finite set, there exists y∈N such that f−1(y):={x:f(x)=y} is an infinite set. Now taking A⊂f−1(y), we know that Y:={y,f(y),…,f(2023)(y)} has ∣Y∣=2024; in other words, y lies on a cycle Y of size exactly 2024.
Now, for any x∈N, take A satisfying x∈A and A∩f−1(y)=∅. Note that in this case Y⊂SA, forcing Y=SA (otherwise ∣SA∣>∣Y∣=2024), and hence also f(x)∈Y. This means that all points not on Y must reach Y in one step, which is the second possible f.