A Note about Iterated Arithmetic Functions

Abstract

Let $f\colon\mathbb{N}\rightarrow\mathbb{N}_0$ be a multiplicative arithmetic function such that for all primes $p$ and positive integers $\alpha$, $f(p^{\alpha})<p^{\alpha}$ and $f(p)\vert f(p^{\alpha})$. Suppose also that any prime that divides $f(p^{\alpha})$ also divides $pf(p)$. Define $f(0)=0$, and let $H(n)=\displaystyle{\lim_{m\rightarrow\infty}f^m(n)}$, where $f^m$ denotes the $m^{th}$ iterate of $f$. We prove that the function $H$ is completely multiplicative.