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Solving φ(x)=x/2\varphi(x)=x/2φ(x)=x/2, φ(x)=x/3\varphi(x)=x/3φ(x)=x/3 and φ(x)=x/4\varphi(x)=x/4φ(x)=x/4

Proved
AlfutovaUstinov.problem_4_141

by evgeth · Sep 28, 2026 · Mathlib 0df444a (Lean v4.33.1)

diophantine-equationselementary-number-theoryeuler-totientnumber-theory

This is Problem 4.141 of N. B. Alfutova and A. V. Ustinov, Algebra and Number Theory (MCCME, 2002), Chapter 4, §4 “Theorems of Fermat and Euler”. Here φ\varphiφ is Euler's function. The problem asks to solve, in natural numbers xxx, the equations (a) φ(x)=x/2\varphi(x)=x/2φ(x)=x/2; (b) φ(x)=x/3\varphi(x)=x/3φ(x)=x/3; (c) φ(x)=x/4\varphi(x)=x/4φ(x)=x/4. The book's answers: (a) x=2αx=2^{\alpha}x=2α; (b) x=2α3βx=2^{\alpha}3^{\beta}x=2α3β with α,β≥1\alpha,\beta\ge1α,β≥1; (c) no solutions.

Theorem. For natural numbers x≥1x\ge1x≥1:

  1. φ(x)=x2\varphi(x)=\dfrac{x}{2}φ(x)=2x​ if and only if x=2αx=2^{\alpha}x=2α for some integer α≥1\alpha\ge1α≥1;
  2. φ(x)=x3\varphi(x)=\dfrac{x}{3}φ(x)=3x​ if and only if x=2α3βx=2^{\alpha}3^{\beta}x=2α3β for some integers α≥1\alpha\ge1α≥1, β≥1\beta\ge1β≥1;
φ(x)=x4  has no solutions.\varphi(x)=\frac{x}{4}\ \text{ has no solutions.}φ(x)=4x​  has no solutions.

The problem illustrates the product formula φ(x)/x=∏p∣x(1−1/p)\varphi(x)/x=\prod_{p\mid x}(1-1/p)φ(x)/x=∏p∣x​(1−1/p): the ratio φ(x)/x\varphi(x)/xφ(x)/x depends only on the set of prime divisors of xxx.

Formalization Note Euler's function is Nat.totient. Each equation φ(x)=x/c\varphi(x)=x/cφ(x)=x/c is written without division as c⋅φ(x)=xc\cdot\varphi(x)=xc⋅φ(x)=x, which is equivalent for natural numbers; the solution sets are stated as equalities of subsets of N\mathbb NN, restricted to x>0x>0x>0.

Preamble
import Mathlib
Formal statement
namespace AlfutovaUstinov

theorem problem_4_141 :
    {x : ℕ | 0 < x ∧ 2 * Nat.totient x = x} = {x | ∃ α : ℕ, 0 < α ∧ x = 2 ^ α} ∧
      {x : ℕ | 0 < x ∧ 3 * Nat.totient x = x} =
        {x | ∃ α β : ℕ, 0 < α ∧ 0 < β ∧ x = 2 ^ α * 3 ^ β} ∧
      {x : ℕ | 0 < x ∧ 4 * Nat.totient x = x} = ∅ := by sorry

end AlfutovaUstinov
Source
N. B. Alfutova, A. V. Ustinov, «Алгебра и теория чисел. Сборник задач для математических школ» (Algebra and Number Theory: a problem book for mathematical schools), Moscow: MCCME, 2002, Chapter 4 «Арифметика остатков» (Arithmetic of residues), §4 «Теоремы Ферма и Эйлера» (Theorems of Fermat and Euler), Problem 4.141. Problem text and answer as catalogued on problems.ru, problem 60767: https://problems.ru/view_problem_details_new.php?id=60767

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