MathLabs

Problem 2

Find all integers nn satisfying n≥2n\ge2 and σ(n)p(n)−1=n,\frac{\sigma(n)}{p(n)-1}=n, in which σ(n)\sigma(n) denotes the sum of all positive divisors of nn, and p(n)p(n) denotes the largest prime divisor of nn.
Step 2 of 3: Force at most two prime factors, both at most 3
k≥3 ⟹ pk−1≥2k−2≥k+1, contradiction ⟹ k≤2, pk≤3k\ge3\ \Longrightarrow\ p_k-1\ge 2k-2\ge k+1,\text{ contradiction}\ \Longrightarrow\ k\le2,\ p_k\le3
Detailed analysis

For k≥3k\ge3, the kk-th prime is at least 2k−12k-1, so pk−1≥2k−2≥k+1p_k-1\ge2k-2\ge k+1, contradicting pk−1<k+1p_k-1<k+1. Thus k≤2k\le2, and pk<k+2≤4p_k<k+2\le4 forces pk≤3p_k\le3.