Olympiad Maths Prep

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Problem 1863

IMO Shortlist mid-range; USAMO P2/P5
Number theory Difficulty 8.8 Prove it Team Selection Test for IMO 2011 · Turkey · 2011

Let pp be a prime, nn be a positive integer, and let ZpnZ_{p^n} denote the set of congruence classes modulo pnp^n. Determine the number of functions f:ZpnZpnf : Z_{p^n} \to Z_{p^n} satisfying the condition
f(a)+f(b)f(a+b+pab)(modpn) f(a) + f(b) \equiv f(a + b + pab) \pmod{p^n}
for all a,bZpna, b \in Z_{p^n}.

This one wants a proof. Work it on paper, read the official solution, then mark yourself honestly — the ladder only means something if the record is true.

Official solution

The answer is pnp^n.
Let ai=(1+p)i1pa_i = \frac{(1+p)^i - 1}{p} for i0i \ge 0. By induction we obtain f(ai)if(1)(modpn)f(a_i) \equiv i f(1) \pmod{p^n} for all i0i \ge 0.
If p>2p > 2 or p=2p = 2 and n=1n = 1, then
aiaj(modpn)(1+p)ji1(modpn+1)ij(modpn). a_i \equiv a_j \pmod{p^n} \Rightarrow (1+p)^{j-i} \equiv 1 \pmod{p^{n+1}} \Rightarrow i \equiv j \pmod{p^n}.
Since ai+aj+paiaj=ai+ja_i + a_j + p a_i a_j = a_{i+j} for all i,j0i, j \ge 0, the function defined by f(ai)ic(modpn)f(a_i) \equiv i c \pmod{p^n}, (0i<pn)(0 \le i < p^n), satisfies the condition of the question for any choice of cZpnc \in \mathbb{Z}_{p^n}.

aiaj(mod2n)3ji1(mod2n+1)ij(mod2n1) a_i \equiv a_j \pmod{2^n} \Rightarrow 3^{j-i} \equiv 1 \pmod{2^{n+1}} \Rightarrow i \equiv j \pmod{2^{n-1}}
and Zpn={ai:0i<2n1}{ai1:0i<2n1}Z_{p^n} = \{a_i : 0 \le i < 2^{n-1}\} \cup \{-a_i - 1 : 0 \le i < 2^{n-1}\}. We also have 2f(1)f(1)+f(1)f((1)+(1)+2(1)(1))f(0)0(mod2n)2f(-1) \equiv f(-1) + f(-1) \equiv f((-1) + (-1) + 2(-1)(-1)) \equiv f(0) \equiv 0 \pmod{2^n}.
Since aiaj+2aiaj=ai+ja_i - a_j + 2 a_i a_j = a_{i+j}, ai+(aj1)+2ai(aj1)=ai+j1a_i + (-a_j - 1) + 2 a_i (-a_j - 1) = -a_{i+j} - 1, and (ai1)+(aj1)+2(ai1)(aj1)=ai+j(-a_i - 1) + (-a_j - 1) + 2(-a_i - 1)(-a_j - 1) = a_{i+j} for all i,j0i, j \ge 0, the function defined by f(ai)ic(mod2n)f(a_i) \equiv i c \pmod{2^n} and f(ai1)ic+d(mod2n)f(-a_i - 1) \equiv i c + d \pmod{2^n}, (0i<2n10 \le i < 2^{n-1}), satisfies the condition of the question for any choice of c2Z2nc \in 2\mathbb{Z}_{2^n} and d2n1Z2nd \in 2^{n-1}\mathbb{Z}_{2^n} as f(a)+f(1)f(a1)(mod2n)f(a) + f(-1) \equiv f(-a - 1) \pmod{2^n} for all aZpna \in Z_{p^n}.

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