1. Define the function and set up the problem:
Let σ(n) be the sum of the divisors of n and define f(n)=nσ(n). We are interested in finding a set M such that for all a,b∈M, f(a+b)<2.
2. Construct the sequence of sets:
Start with M1={1}. We will construct a sequence of sets M1,M2,… such that Mk+1=Mk∪{ak+1} for some positive integer ak+1 with a1=1. The union of all these sets will produce an infinite set M.
3. Choose the elements of the sequence:
Let p1<p2<… be the primes in increasing order. Suppose at some step we have the set Mk={a1,a2,…,ak}. We will choose ak+1=p1p2…pm+1 for sufficiently large m to be determined later. We need ai+ak+1 to be a good number for each i≤k+1.
4. Lemma:
For all n, f(n)<∏p∣n(p−1p).
- Proof:
Note that f(n)=∏p∣n(1+p−1+…+p−vp(n))<∏p∣n(p−1p) by the infinite geometric series formula applied to each term of the product.
5. **Show that 2ak+1 is a good number:**
For large m, our choice of ak+1 satisfies that 2ak+1 is a good number. All primes dividing ak+1 must have size at least pm+1, hence:
f(2ak+1)=1.5f(ak+1)<1.5p∣ak+1∏(p−1p)≤1.5p∣ak+1∏(pm+1−1pm+1)
Since ak+1=p1p2…pm+1≤pm+1m, this term is at most:
1.5⋅(1+pm+1−11)m
For large enough m, the ratio bm=pm+1−1m grows arbitrarily small (as roughly (logm)−1), hence:
1.5⋅(1+pm+1−11)m≈1.5⋅ebm<2
6. **Show that ai+ak+1 is a good number:**
For sufficiently large m, each ai+ak+1 must be a good number. Assume pm>ak. Then:
ai+ak+1=(ai+1)+p1p2…pm
By the inductive hypothesis, ai+1=ai+a1 is good, hence f(ai+1)=ci<2. Since pm≥ak+1≥ai+1, if p∤ai+1 and p∣ai+ak+1, we know p∤p1p2…pm⟹p≥pm+1. It follows that:
f(ai+ak+1)<p∣ai+ak+1,p∣ai+1∏(p−1p)p∣ai+ak+1,p≥pm+1∏(p−1p)≤cip∣ai+ak+1,p≥pm+1∏(pm+1−1pm+1)
For each ai+ak+1 to be good, we need:
(pm+1−1pm+1)logpm+1(ai+ak+1)≤ci2
where each ci is less than 2. Since ai+ak+1<2(p1p2…pm+1)<4p2p3…pm≤pm+1m, the LHS of the previous inequality is at most:
(pm+1−1pm+1)m
As with the previous argument, for large m this term approaches ebm, which grows arbitrarily close to one as bm→0. Hence for suitable m we have:
LHS≤min(c12,…,ck2)
Therefore, each ai+ak+1 is good, as desired.