A uniqueness problem concerning entire functions and their derivatives

Abstract

We determine all entire functions $f$ such that for nonzero complex values $a\neq b$ the implications $f=a \Rightarrow f' =a$ and $f' =b \Rightarrow f=b$ hold. This solves an open problem in uniqueness theory. In this context we give a normality criterion, which might be interesting in its own right.