A generalization of the Buchstab equation (Q1382628)

The ``Buchstab equation'', a special case of the Buchstab identity familiar from sieve theory, is the identity \[ \Psi(x,y)=\Psi(x,z)-\sum_{y<p\leq z}\Psi(x/p,p)\quad (z>y), \] where \(\Psi(x,y)\) is the number of positive integers \(\leq x\) that have no prime factors \(>y\). This identity has been used by \textit{A. A. Buchstab} [Dokl. Akad. Nauk. SSSR 67, 5-8 (1949; Zbl 0033.16304)] to obtain estimates for \(\Psi(x,y)\). Here the author proves an analogous functional equation for the more general quantities \(\Psi_f(x,y)=\sum_{n\leq x,P(n)\leq y}f(n)\), where \(P(n)\) denotes the largest prime factor of \(n\) and \(f(n)\) is a multiplicative function. In a similar way, he generalizes the identity \[ \Psi(x,y)\log x =\int_1^x{\Psi(t,y)\over t} dt+\sum_{\substack{ p^m\leq x\\ p\leq y}} \Psi(x/p^m,y)\log p, \] due to the reviewer [J. Number Theory 22, 289-307 (1986; Zbl 0575.10038)], to an identity for the functions \(\Psi_f(x,y)\).