Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2017/iii/paper-130/1/iv/solution

Let be the cyclic logarithmic coloring from part (iii). Define a finite coloring of the positive integers by
The inner logarithm is at least whenever , so this is defined everywhere. Suppose an increasing infinite sequence made every product with distinct indices monochromatic. Fix an index with and write . The sequence is unbounded, so choose with . Both ordered products are among the supposedly monochromatic values, but their logarithms satisfy
Indeed, the first inequality is equivalent to , and the second uses . Part (iii) therefore gives , a contradiction. Thus the assertion with all distinct ordered indices is false. The obstruction needs an infinite unbounded sequence; it does not assert that every pair of different positive integers gives different colors.

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