Question:
Let f be a function such that f (mn) = f (m) f (n) for every positive integers m and n. If f (1), f (2) and f (3) are positive integers, f (1) < f (2), and f (24) = 54, then f (18) equals
Correct Answer: 12
Given, f(mn)=f(m)f(m)
Also, f(24)=54
$\Rightarrow $f(24) =2×3×3×3
$\Rightarrow $f(2×12)=f(2)f(12)=f(2)f(2×6)=f(2)f(2)f(6)=f(2)f(2)f(2×3)=f(2)f(2)f(2)f(3)=2×3×3×3
Given that f(1), f(2) and f(3) are all positive integers, by comparison, we get
f(2) = 3 and f(3)=2. And we can safely take f(1)=1
Now, f(18)=f(2)(9)=f(2)f(3×3)=f(2)f(3)f(3)=3×2×2=12
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