MathLabs

Problem 1

Determine all composite integers n>1n>1 that satisfy the following property: if d1,d2,…,dkd_1, d_2, \ldots, d_k are all the positive divisors of nn with 1=d1<d2<⋯<dk=n1=d_1<d_2<\cdots<d_k=n, then did_i divides di+1+di+2d_{i+1}+d_{i+2} for every 1≤i≤k−21\le i\le k-2.
Step 1 of 3: Prime powers: identify the divisors
In plain words

When n has only one prime factor, its divisors are just the increasing powers of that prime, so the chain condition becomes a single easy divisibility fact.

n=pr  ⟹  di=pi−1n=p^r\implies d_i=p^{i-1}
Detailed analysis

If n=prn=p^r for a prime pp and r≥2r\ge2, its divisors in order are di=pi−1d_i=p^{i-1} for i=1,…,r+1i=1,\ldots,r+1. The required relation di∣di+1+di+2d_i\mid d_{i+1}+d_{i+2} becomes pi−1∣pi+pi+1=pi(1+p)p^{i-1}\mid p^i+p^{i+1}=p^i(1+p), which holds because i−1≤ii-1\le i. Hence every prime power satisfies the property.