
87.3. Let $f$ be a strictly increasing function defined in the set of natural numbers satisfying the conditions $f(2)=a>2$ and $f(m n)=f(m) f(n)$ for all natural numbers $m$ and $n$. Determine the smallest possible value of $a$.


Solution. Since $f(n)=n^{2}$ is a function satisfying the conditions of the problem, the smallest posiible $a$ is at most 4. Assume $a=3$. It is easy to prove by induction that $f\left(n^{k}\right)=f(n)^{k}$ for all $k \geq 1$. So, taking into account that $f$ is strictly increasing, we get

$$
\begin{gathered}
f(3)^{4}=f\left(3^{4}\right)=f(81)>f(64)=f\left(2^{6}\right)=f(2)^{6} \\
=3^{6}=27^{2}>25^{2}=5^{4}
\end{gathered}
$$

as well as

$$
\begin{aligned}
& f(3)^{8}=f\left(3^{8}\right)=f(6561)<f(8192) \\
& \quad=f\left(2^{13}\right)=f(2)^{13}=3^{13}<6^{8}
\end{aligned}
$$

So we arrive at $5<f(3)<6$. But this is not possible, since $f(3)$ is an integer. So $a=4$.
