Tagged Questions

7
votes
4answers
511 views

An elementary number theoretic infinite series

For a positive integer k, let d(k) be the number of divisors of k. So d(1)=1, d(p) =2 if p is a prime, d(6)=4, and d(12)=6. What is the precise asymptotics of SUM_{k=1}^n 1/(kd(k …
24
votes
21answers
2k views

Experimental Mathematics

I would like to ask about examples where experimentation by computers have led to major mathematical advances. Motivation I am aware about a few such cases and I think it will b …
14
votes
2answers
371 views

The probability for a sequence to have small partial sums

The question Let $a_1,a_2,\dots,a_n$ be a sequence whose entries are +1 or -1. Let t be a parameter. My question is to give an estimate for the number of such sequences so that …
23
votes
5answers
692 views

Why does the Riemann zeta function have non-trivial zeros?

This is a very basic question of course, and exposes my serious ignorance of analytic number theory, but what I am looking for is a good intuitive explanation rather than a formal …
17
votes
3answers
713 views

Improving a sequence of 1s and -1s

Suppose you take a $\pm 1$ sequence and you want to "improve it" by taking pointwise limits of translates. What properties can you guarantee to get in the limit? Two examples ill …
19
votes
5answers
737 views

Partial sums of multiplicative functions

It is well known that some statements about partial sums of multiplicative functions are extremely hard. For example, the Riemann hypothesis is equivalent to the assertion that |&m …
5
votes
0answers
122 views

Analytic continuation of Dirichlet series with completely multiplicative coefficients of modulus 1

A sequence $a_n \in \mathbb{T}$ ($n \geq 1$) satisfying $a_{mn} = a_m a_n$ for all $m, n \geq 1$ defines a Dirichlet series $f(s) = \sum_n a_n n^{-s}$, absolutely convergent for $\ …
10
votes
1answer
242 views

Is this a well-known probabilistic model?

While I was thinking about the Erdős discrepancy problem, the following random walk model arose rather naturally. You fix a positive integer k, and you take a random step of 1 …
4
votes
2answers
114 views

Finding the codomain of a monoid homomorphism

We have a monoid M, and a function $f: M \rightarrow \{0, 1\}$. We're promised that this function factors through a (surjective) homomorphism to a finite abelian group (considered …