IMO 2023 · Problem 1

Determine all composite integers \(n>1\) that satisfy the following property: if \(d_1,d_2,\ldots,d_k\) are all the positive divisors of \(n\) with \(1=d_1<d_2<\cdots<d_k=n\), then \(d_i\) divides \(d_{i+1}+d_{i+2}\) for every \(1\leq i\leq k-2\).

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

Answer

Exactly the prime powers \[ \boxed{n=p^r,\qquad p\text{ prime},\quad r\geq2.} \]

Solution

First, every such prime power works. Its divisors are \(d_i=p^{i-1}\) for \(1\leq i\leq r+1\), and \[ d_{i+1}+d_{i+2}=p^i+p^{i+1}=p^{i-1}\,p(1+p), \] which is divisible by \(d_i\).

Conversely, suppose that a composite integer \(n\) satisfies the condition. Its smallest divisor greater than \(1\), namely \(p=d_2\), is prime.

Recall that the map \(d\mapsto n/d\) reverses the ordered list of divisors. Consequently, whenever \(a<b<c\) are three consecutive divisors, so are \[ \frac nc<\frac nb<\frac na. \] Applying the given condition to both triples yields \[ a\mid b+c \qquad\text{and}\qquad \frac nc\mid\frac nb+\frac na. \] The second relation means that, for some positive integer \(t\), \[ \frac nb+\frac na=t\frac nc, \] or equivalently, \[ c(a+b)=tab. \tag{1} \]

Suppose that some divisor of \(n\) greater than \(1\) is not divisible by \(p\). Choose the smallest such divisor, \(b=d_j\). Since \(d_2=p\) and \(p\mid n=d_k\), we have \[ 3\leq j\leq k-1. \] Thus \(a=d_{j-1}\) and \(c=d_{j+1}\) exist, and \(p\mid a\) by the minimality of \(b\).

From \(a\mid b+c\), we obtain \(p\mid b+c\). Since \(p\nmid b\), this implies \(p\nmid c\). Also \(p\nmid a+b\), because \(p\mid a\) and \(p\nmid b\). Therefore the left-hand side of (1) is not divisible by \(p\), whereas its right-hand side is divisible by \(p\). This is a contradiction.

Hence every divisor of \(n\) greater than \(1\) is divisible by \(p\). In particular, every prime factor of \(n\) equals \(p\), so \(n=p^r\). Since \(n\) is composite, \(r\geq2\), completing the proof.

The solution was checked against the official IMO shortlist solutions.