Mathematics Problem Of the Week

Spring 2002

POW #7

 

Iterated Increasing Integer Function

 

Let f(n) be a strictly increasing function defined on the positive integers which always gives positive integers as a result (i.e., f:Z+®Z+).  If we know that f(f(n))=3n for any positive integer n, find each of the following (and justify your answers)

(a)  f(1)

(b)  f(6)

(c)  f(100)

(d)  f(500)

 

Due Friday, March 15th at Noon.

 

(Adapted from a Macalester College POW)