IMO 1993 · Problem 5

Does there exist a function \(f : \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{N}\) such that \(f(1) = 2\), \(f(f(n)) = f(n) + n\) for all \(n \in \mathbb{N}\), and \(f(n) < f(n + 1)\) for all \(n \in \mathbb{N}\)?

Official text of the problem. Official problem paper (PDF)

Answer

Yes. One such function is \[ \boxed{f(n)=\left\lfloor \frac{1+\sqrt5}{2}\,n+\frac12\right\rfloor.} \]

Solution

Put \(\alpha=(1+\sqrt5)/2\). Then \[ \alpha^2=\alpha+1,\qquad \frac32<\alpha<2. \] Define \[ f(n)=\left\lfloor \alpha n+\frac12\right\rfloor. \] Since \(\alpha>1\), we have \(f(n)\ge n\), so this maps \(\mathbb N\) into itself. Also, \[ f(1)=\left\lfloor\alpha+\frac12\right\rfloor=2. \] Moreover, \[ f(n+1) =\left\lfloor\alpha n+\frac12+\alpha\right\rfloor \ge \left\lfloor\alpha n+\frac12+1\right\rfloor =f(n)+1, \] which proves strict increase.

It remains to verify the functional equation. Fix \(n\), and write \[ e=f(n)-\alpha n. \] The definition of the floor function gives \[ -\frac12<e\le\frac12. \] Using \(\alpha(\alpha-1)=1\), we obtain \[ \alpha f(n)-(f(n)+n) =(\alpha-1)(\alpha n+e)-n =(\alpha-1)e. \] Because \(0<\alpha-1<1\), it follows that \[ \left|\alpha f(n)-(f(n)+n)\right|<\frac12. \] Consequently, \[ f(n)+n<\alpha f(n)+\frac12<f(n)+n+1. \] Taking floors yields \[ f(f(n)) =\left\lfloor\alpha f(n)+\frac12\right\rfloor =f(n)+n. \] Thus all the required conditions hold.

The solution was checked against John Scholes' IMO solution archive (Kalva).