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Stanley Yao Xiao
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Is the following sum irrational?

$$S = \displaystyle \sum_{n \text{ squarefree}, n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3}$$

The sum clearly converges, so it is bounded above by $\zeta(3) = \displaystyle \sum_{n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3}$. In fact, since we have $$\displaystyle \sum_{n \text{ squarefree}, n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3} = \prod_p \left(1 + \frac{1}{p^3}\right) = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\mu^2(n)}{n^3},$$ the sum is exactly equal to $\displaystyle \frac{\zeta(3)}{\zeta(6)}$.

Hence if $S$ is irrational, then it would show that $\zeta(3)$ is not a rational multiple of $\pi^6$. Since we know that $\zeta(3)$ is not rational given Apery's work, this is a slight strengthening of the result of Apery.

It seems that Apery's approach should still work for $S$, but I am not sure. Does anyone know the answer or the plausibility of Apery's approach working?

Edit: one notes that if we are to sum over the reciprocals of POWERFUL numbers, i.e. those numbers $n$ such that for all primes $p$ dividing $n$, there exists an integer $k > 1$ such that $p^k || n$. In particular all powerful numbers $n$ have a unique representation as $n = a^2 b^3$, where $b$ is squarefree. Hence we have $$\displaystyle T = \sum_{n \text{ powerful}} \frac{1}{n} = \left(\sum_{a=1}^\infty \frac{1}{a^2} \right)\left(\sum_{b \text{ squarefree}, b \geq 1} \frac{1}{b^3}\right) = \frac{\zeta(2)\zeta(3)}{\zeta(6)}.$$ It would be interesting to see if Apery's methods work for the sum of the reciprocals of powerful numbers as well.

Is the following sum irrational?

$$S = \displaystyle \sum_{n \text{ squarefree}, n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3}$$

The sum clearly converges, so it is bounded above by $\zeta(3) = \displaystyle \sum_{n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3}$. In fact, since we have $$\displaystyle \sum_{n \text{ squarefree}, n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3} = \prod_p \left(1 + \frac{1}{p^3}\right) = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\mu^2(n)}{n^3},$$ the sum is exactly equal to $\displaystyle \frac{\zeta(3)}{\zeta(6)}$.

Hence if $S$ is irrational, then it would show that $\zeta(3)$ is not a rational multiple of $\pi^6$. Since we know that $\zeta(3)$ is not rational given Apery's work, this is a slight strengthening of the result of Apery.

It seems that Apery's approach should still work for $S$, but I am not sure. Does anyone know the answer or the plausibility of Apery's approach working?

Is the following sum irrational?

$$S = \displaystyle \sum_{n \text{ squarefree}, n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3}$$

The sum clearly converges, so it is bounded above by $\zeta(3) = \displaystyle \sum_{n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3}$. In fact, since we have $$\displaystyle \sum_{n \text{ squarefree}, n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3} = \prod_p \left(1 + \frac{1}{p^3}\right) = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\mu^2(n)}{n^3},$$ the sum is exactly equal to $\displaystyle \frac{\zeta(3)}{\zeta(6)}$.

Hence if $S$ is irrational, then it would show that $\zeta(3)$ is not a rational multiple of $\pi^6$. Since we know that $\zeta(3)$ is not rational given Apery's work, this is a slight strengthening of the result of Apery.

It seems that Apery's approach should still work for $S$, but I am not sure. Does anyone know the answer or the plausibility of Apery's approach working?

Edit: one notes that if we are to sum over the reciprocals of POWERFUL numbers, i.e. those numbers $n$ such that for all primes $p$ dividing $n$, there exists an integer $k > 1$ such that $p^k || n$. In particular all powerful numbers $n$ have a unique representation as $n = a^2 b^3$, where $b$ is squarefree. Hence we have $$\displaystyle T = \sum_{n \text{ powerful}} \frac{1}{n} = \left(\sum_{a=1}^\infty \frac{1}{a^2} \right)\left(\sum_{b \text{ squarefree}, b \geq 1} \frac{1}{b^3}\right) = \frac{\zeta(2)\zeta(3)}{\zeta(6)}.$$ It would be interesting to see if Apery's methods work for the sum of the reciprocals of powerful numbers as well.

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Stanley Yao Xiao
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Is the following sum irrational?

$$S = \displaystyle \sum_{n \text{ squarefree}, n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3}$$

The sum clearly converges, so it is bounded above by $\zeta(3) = \displaystyle \sum_{n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3}$. In fact, since we have $$\displaystyle \sum_{n \text{ squarefree}, n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3} = \prod_p \left(1 + \frac{1}{p^3}\right) = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\mu^2(n)}{n^3},$$ the sum is exactly equal to $\displaystyle \frac{\zeta(3)}{\zeta(6)}$.

Hence if $S$ is irrational, then it would show that $\zeta(3)$ is not a rational multiple of $\pi^6$. Since we know that $\zeta(3)$ is not rational given Apery's work, whichthis is slightly stronger thana slight strengthening of the result of Apery.

It seems that Apery's approach should still work for $S$, but I am not sure. Does anyone know the answer or the plausibility of Apery's approach working?

Is the following sum irrational?

$$S = \displaystyle \sum_{n \text{ squarefree}, n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3}$$

The sum clearly converges, so it is bounded above by $\zeta(3) = \displaystyle \sum_{n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3}$. In fact, since we have $$\displaystyle \sum_{n \text{ squarefree}, n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3} = \prod_p \left(1 + \frac{1}{p^3}\right) = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\mu^2(n)}{n^3},$$ the sum is exactly equal to $\displaystyle \frac{\zeta(3)}{\zeta(6)}$.

Hence if $S$ is irrational, then it would show that $\zeta(3)$ is not a rational multiple of $\pi^6$, which is slightly stronger than the result of Apery.

It seems that Apery's approach should still work for $S$, but I am not sure. Does anyone know the answer or the plausibility of Apery's approach working?

Is the following sum irrational?

$$S = \displaystyle \sum_{n \text{ squarefree}, n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3}$$

The sum clearly converges, so it is bounded above by $\zeta(3) = \displaystyle \sum_{n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3}$. In fact, since we have $$\displaystyle \sum_{n \text{ squarefree}, n \geq 1} \frac{1}{n^3} = \prod_p \left(1 + \frac{1}{p^3}\right) = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\mu^2(n)}{n^3},$$ the sum is exactly equal to $\displaystyle \frac{\zeta(3)}{\zeta(6)}$.

Hence if $S$ is irrational, then it would show that $\zeta(3)$ is not a rational multiple of $\pi^6$. Since we know that $\zeta(3)$ is not rational given Apery's work, this is a slight strengthening of the result of Apery.

It seems that Apery's approach should still work for $S$, but I am not sure. Does anyone know the answer or the plausibility of Apery's approach working?

[Edit removed during grace period]
Source Link
Stanley Yao Xiao
  • 26.9k
  • 7
  • 49
  • 143
Source Link
Stanley Yao Xiao
  • 26.9k
  • 7
  • 49
  • 143
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