708 Number Theory
The last term in the first sum can be ignored since it is equal to zero. To evaluate the
second sum, we observe that
⌊
n+ 1
k
⌋
−
⌊n
k
⌋
=
{
1ifkdividesn,
0 otherwise.
Therefore,
∑n+^1
k= 1
φ(k)
⌊
n+ 1
k
⌋
=
∑n
k= 1
φ(k)
⌊n
k
⌋
+
∑
k|n+ 1
φ(k).
Using the induction hypothesis and Gauss’ identity
∑
k|nφ(k)=n, we find that this is
equal ton(n 2 +^1 )+(n+ 1 ), which is further equal to the desired answer(n+^1 )(n 2 +^2 ). This
completes the induction, and the solution to the problem.
Second solution: Using the Gauss identity for Euler’s totient function (the first problem
in this section), we can write
n(n+ 1 )
2
=
∑n
m= 1
m=
∑n
m= 1
∑
k|m
φ(k)=
∑n
k= 1
φ(k)
∑n/k
m= 1
1.
This is clearly equal to the left-hand side of the identity from the statement, and we are
done.
(M.O. Drimbe, 200de Identita ̧ ̆ti ̧si Inegalita ̧ ̆ti cu “Partea Întreaga ̆( 200 Identities
and Inequalities about the “Greatest Integer Function’’), GIL, 2004, second solution by
R. Stong)
782.We may assume gcd(a, d)=1,d≥1,a>d. Sinceaφ(d)≡ 1 (modd), it follows
thatakφ(d)≡ 1 (modd)for all integersk. Hence for allk≥1,
akφ(d)= 1 +mkd,
for some positive integersmk. Ifweletnk=amk,k≥1, then
a+nkd=akφ(d)+^1 ,
so the prime factors ofa+nkd,k≥1, are exactly those ofa.
(G. Pólya, G. Szego, ̋Aufgaben und Lehrsätze aus der Analysis, Springer-Verlag, 1964)
783.The customer picks a numberkand transmits it securely to the bank using the
algorithm described in the essay. Using the two large prime numberspandq, the bank
findsmsuch thatkm≡ 1 (mod(p− 1 )(q− 1 )).Ifαis the numerical information that
the customer wants to receive, the bank computesαm(modn), then transmits the answer