Problem

Source: 2013 Macedonian Additional IMO TST Day 1 P3

Tags: algebra, functional equation



We denote the set of nonzero integers and the set of non-negative integers with $\mathbb Z^*$ and $\mathbb N_0$, respectively. Find all functions $f:\mathbb Z^* \to \mathbb N_0$ such that: $a)$ $f(a+b)\geq min(f(a), f(b))$ for all $a,b$ in $\mathbb Z^*$ for which $a+b$ is in $\mathbb Z^*$. $b)$ $f(ab)=f(a)+f(b)$ for all $a,b$ in $\mathbb Z^*$.