functions f: Q+ -> Z
Source: Brazil TST 1999
May 9, 2005
functionlogarithmsinequalitiesinductionnumber theoryRing Theorytriangle inequality
Problem Statement
Let Q+ and Z denote the set of positive rationals and the set of inte-
gers, respectively. Find all functions f : Q+ → Z satisfying the following
conditions:
(i) f(1999) = 1;
(ii) f(ab) = f(a) + f(b) for all a, b ∈ Q+;
(iii) f(a + b) ≥ min{f(a), f(b)} for all a, b ∈ Q+.