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One classical Mertens' theorem tells us that $$\prod_{p \leq n} (1-\frac{1}{p})^{-1} = e^\gamma \log n + \mathcal{O}(1).$$ It is now very natural to ask, whether we have some good estimate to $$\prod_{p \leq n} (1-\frac{1}{p^s})^{-1}$$ for, let's say, $s > 1$ real. Of course the limit is $\zeta(s)$ for growing $n$, and I would like to have some portion estimate - or something similar - in the form $$\prod_{p \leq n} (1-\frac{1}{p^s})^{-1} = k_n \zeta(s)$$ where $k_n$ is quite well estimated with respect to $n$.

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    $\begingroup$ Just take logarithms, and use partial summation (together with Mertens'estimate or the prime number theorem). $\endgroup$
    – js21
    May 27, 2012 at 8:25
  • $\begingroup$ can you explain this a bit more detailed ? $\endgroup$
    – tobias
    May 27, 2012 at 9:58

1 Answer 1

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I detail. It suffices to study the "tail" $P(X) = \prod_{p > X} (1- \frac{1}{p^s})^{-1} $. Using $-\log(1-y) = y + O(y^2)$, we get for real $s>1$ $$ \log P(X) = \sum_{p > X} \frac{1}{p^s} + O \left( \frac{1}{X^{2s-1}} \right) = \int_{Y>X} \frac{d\pi(Y)}{Y^s} + O \left( \frac{1}{X^{2s-1}} \right) $$ $$= \int_{Y>X} \frac{dY}{Y^s \log Y} + \int_{Y>X} \frac{dR(Y)}{Y^s} + O \left( \frac{1}{X^{2s-1}} \right) $$

where $R(Y) = \pi(Y) - Li(Y) $. The first integral is easy to deal with, while the second one can be treated with an integration by part (and then using known bounds of the shape $R(Y) \ll \frac{Y}{(\log Y)^A}$). For fixed $s$ this yields an asymptotic equivalent of your $k_n$.

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