To determine the largest possible value of \( f(l) \) given that \( f(ab) = f(a)f(b) \) for all positive integers \( a \) and \( b \), we must consider the functional equation and its implications. A function satisfying this equation for all positive integers is known as a multiplicative function. One common example is \( f(x) = x^c \) for a constant \( c \). Let's explore this function:
Since all multiplicative functions of this type either result in 0 or 1, and the non-zero solution gives us the constant function \( f(x) = 1 \) for any positive integer \( x \), the largest possible value of \( f(l) \) is 1.
For any natural number $k$, let $a_k = 3^k$. The smallest natural number $m$ for which \[ (a_1)^1 \times (a_2)^2 \times \dots \times (a_{20})^{20} \;<\; a_{21} \times a_{22} \times \dots \times a_{20+m} \] is: