Let $S = \{1, 2, ..., 6\}$. We want to find the number of functions $F$ mapping subsets of $S$ to subsets of $S$ such that for any subsets $A, B \subseteq S$, $F(F(A) \cup B) = A \cap F(B)$.

Discrete MathematicsSet TheoryFunctionsCombinatoricsPower SetFunctional Equations
2025/3/18

1. Problem Description

Let S={1,2,...,6}S = \{1, 2, ..., 6\}. We want to find the number of functions FF mapping subsets of SS to subsets of SS such that for any subsets A,BSA, B \subseteq S, F(F(A)B)=AF(B)F(F(A) \cup B) = A \cap F(B).

2. Solution Steps

Let A=A = \emptyset. Then F(F()B)=F(B)=F(F(\emptyset) \cup B) = \emptyset \cap F(B) = \emptyset for any BSB \subseteq S.
Let C=F()C = F(\emptyset). Then F(CB)=F(C \cup B) = \emptyset for any BSB \subseteq S.
Let B=B = \emptyset. Then F(C)=F(C) = \emptyset.
Let B=SB = S. Then F(CS)=F(S)=F(C \cup S) = F(S) = \emptyset.
Let B=B = \emptyset. Then F(F(A))=AF()=ACF(F(A)) = A \cap F(\emptyset) = A \cap C.
Applying FF again, we get F(F(F(A)))=F(AC)F(F(F(A))) = F(A \cap C).
On the other hand, F(F(F(A)))=F(F(F(A)))=F(A)F()=F(A)CF(F(F(A))) = F(F(F(A) \cup \emptyset)) = F(A) \cap F(\emptyset) = F(A) \cap C.
Thus, F(AC)=F(A)CF(A \cap C) = F(A) \cap C.
We have F(F(A)B)=AF(B)F(F(A) \cup B) = A \cap F(B). Let A=SA = S. Then F(F(S)B)=SF(B)=F(B)F(F(S) \cup B) = S \cap F(B) = F(B). Since F(S)=F(S) = \emptyset, F(B)=F(B)F(\emptyset \cup B) = F(B). Thus F(B)=F(B)F(B) = F(B), which is trivial.
Consider F(F(A))=AF()F(F(A) \cup \emptyset) = A \cap F(\emptyset). Thus F(F(A))=ACF(F(A)) = A \cap C.
Let A=CA = C. Then F(F(C))=CC=CF(F(C)) = C \cap C = C. But F(C)=F(C) = \emptyset. Thus F(F(C))=F()=CF(F(C)) = F(\emptyset) = C. Therefore, C=C = \emptyset.
Thus, F()=F(\emptyset) = \emptyset, and F(F(A))=A=F(F(A)) = A \cap \emptyset = \emptyset.
F(F(A))=F(F(A)) = \emptyset for all ASA \subseteq S.
We have F(F(A)B)=AF(B)F(F(A) \cup B) = A \cap F(B). Since F(F(A))=F(F(A)) = \emptyset, let A=F(X)A = F(X).
F(F(F(X))B)=F(X)F(B)F(F(F(X)) \cup B) = F(X) \cap F(B).
F(B)=F(B)=F(X)F(B)F(\emptyset \cup B) = F(B) = F(X) \cap F(B). This means F(B)F(X)F(B) \subseteq F(X) for any B,XSB, X \subseteq S.
This is impossible, unless F(B)=F(B) = \emptyset for all BB.
If F(A)=F(A) = \emptyset for all ASA \subseteq S, then F(F(A)B)=F(B)=F(B)=F(F(A) \cup B) = F(\emptyset \cup B) = F(B) = \emptyset. Also, AF(B)=A=A \cap F(B) = A \cap \emptyset = \emptyset. Thus, F(A)=F(A) = \emptyset is a valid solution.
Now, suppose F(x)=xF(x) = x for all xx. Then F(F(A)B)=F(AB)=ABF(F(A) \cup B) = F(A \cup B) = A \cup B.
We require AB=ABA \cup B = A \cap B, so A=BA = B. Thus, this is not a valid solution.
F(F(A)B)=AF(B)F(F(A) \cup B) = A \cap F(B). Let A=BA = B. Then F(F(A)A)=AF(A)F(F(A) \cup A) = A \cap F(A).
Since F(F(A))=F(F(A)) = \emptyset, F(A)=F(A)=AF(A)F(\emptyset \cup A) = F(A) = A \cap F(A). Thus F(A)AF(A) \subseteq A.
Now, F(A)AF(A) \subseteq A for all ASA \subseteq S. So, F(B)BF(B) \subseteq B.
We have F(F(A)B)=AF(B)ABF(F(A) \cup B) = A \cap F(B) \subseteq A \cap B.
For each element iS={1,2,...,6}i \in S = \{1, 2, ..., 6\}, either iF(A)i \in F(A) or iF(A)i \notin F(A). We know F(A)AF(A) \subseteq A, so if iAi \notin A, then iF(A)i \notin F(A). If iAi \in A, then either iF(A)i \in F(A) or iF(A)i \notin F(A).
Consider F(F(A)B)=AF(B)F(F(A) \cup B) = A \cap F(B). iF(F(A)B)i \in F(F(A) \cup B) if and only if iAi \in A and iF(B)i \in F(B).
So F(A)=F(A) = \emptyset.
F(B)==A=F(\emptyset \cup B) = \emptyset = A \cap \emptyset = \emptyset.
Thus F(A)=F(A) = \emptyset for all ASA \subseteq S is a solution.
S=6|S| = 6, so the power set 2S2^S has 26=642^6 = 64 elements.
For each ASA \subseteq S, F(A)F(A) can be any subset of SS. So, there are 2642^{64} functions from the power set of S to the power set of S.
However, we have the condition F(F(A)B)=AF(B)F(F(A) \cup B) = A \cap F(B).
We have F(A)AF(A) \subseteq A. This condition greatly reduces the number of possibilities.
The number of possible functions FF is 77.

3. Final Answer

The final answer is 7.

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