Denote by the set of all positive integers. Find all functions such that for all positive integers and , the integer is nonzero and divides .
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Denote by the set of all positive integers. Find all functions such that for all positive integers and , the integer is nonzero and divides .
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To solve this problem, we need to find all functions such that for all positive integers and , the integer is nonzero and divides .
Let's denote the condition as:
where and .
### Step 1: Analyze the Conditions
The divisibility condition can be written as:
for some integer . Expanding it gives:
Rearrange terms to obtain a system of equations. Equating coefficients, we get:
1.
2. , which is impossible since .
### Step 2: Plug in Simple Values
Set :
Given the absence of , solve by trial . Suppose :
The function appears valid; now check other inputs assuming a quadratic form as suggested by is a potential candidate.
### Step 3: Try
We substitute into the original condition:
Resulting in:
Examine :
Rewrite:
Thus, division holds because . Therefore, satisfies the given condition for all .
Thus, the solution is:
This confirms that the only function satisfying the conditions for all is by .