All Questions
Tagged with nt.number-theory real-analysis
208 questions
239
votes
14
answers
76k
views
Have any long-suspected irrational numbers turned out to be rational?
The history of proving numbers irrational is full of interesting stories, from the ancient proofs for $\sqrt{2}$, to Lambert's irrationality proof for $\pi$, to Roger Apéry's surprise demonstration ...
122
votes
5
answers
27k
views
Is the series $\sum_n|\sin n|^n/n$ convergent?
Problem. Is the series $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{|\sin(n)|^n}n$$convergent?
(The problem was posed on 22.06.2017 by Ph D students of H.Steinhaus Center of Wroclaw Polytechnica. The promised prize for ...
- 4,535
106
votes
5
answers
10k
views
integral of a "sin-omial" coefficients=binomial
I find the following averaged-integral amusing and intriguing, to say the least. Is there any proof?
For any pair of integers $n\geq k\geq0$, we have
$$\frac1{\pi}\int_0^{\pi}\frac{\sin^n(x)}{\...
- 43.2k
89
votes
7
answers
13k
views
If I exchange infinitely many digits of $\pi$ and $e$, are the two resulting numbers transcendental?
If I swap the digits of $\pi$ and $e$ in infinitely many places, I get two new numbers. Are these two numbers transcendental?
user10290
54
votes
4
answers
3k
views
When has the Borel-Cantelli heuristic been wrong?
The Borel-Cantelli lemma is very frequently used to give a heuristic for whether or not certain statements in number theory are true.
For example, it gives some evidence that there are finitely many ...
- 11.4k
49
votes
3
answers
6k
views
The Hardy Z-function and failure of the Riemann hypothesis
David Feldman asked whether it would be reasonable for the Riemann hypothesis to be false, but for the Riemann zeta function to only have finitely many zeros off the critical line. I very rashly ...
- 13.1k
46
votes
7
answers
10k
views
Are some numbers more irrational than others?
Some irrational numbers are transcendental, which makes them in some sense "more irrational" than algebraic numbers. There are also numbers, such as the golden ratio $\varphi$, which are poorly ...
- 1,823
46
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Why could Mertens not prove the prime number theorem?
We know that
$$
\sum_{n \le x}\frac{1}{n\ln n} = \ln\ln x + c_1 + O(1/x)
$$
where $c_1$ is a constant. Again Mertens' theorem says that the primes $p$ satisfy
$$
\sum_{p \le x}\frac{1}{p} = \ln\ln ...
- 5,470
46
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Is the following identity true?
Calculation suggests the following identity:
$$
\lim_{n\to \infty}\sum_{k=1}^{n}\frac{(-1)^k}{k}\sum_{j=1}^k\frac{1}{2j-1}=\frac{1-\sqrt{5}}{2}.
$$
I have verified this identity for $n$ up to $5000$ ...
- 2,183
44
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Smooth functions for which $f(x)$ is rational if and only if $x$ is rational
A friend of mine introduced me to the following question: Does there exist a smooth function $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$, ($f \in C^\infty$), such that $f$ maps rationals to rationals and ...
- 543
41
votes
6
answers
9k
views
"Long-standing conjectures in analysis ... often turn out to be false"
The title is a quote from a Jim Holt article entitled, "The Riemann zeta conjecture and the laughter of the primes" (p. 47).1
His example of a "long-standing conjecture" is the Riemann hypothesis,...
34
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Ruling out the existence of a strange polynomial
Does there exist a polynomial $f \in \mathbb{Z}[x,y]$ such that
$$\displaystyle f(a,b) > 0 \text{ for all } a,b \in \mathbb{Z}$$
and
$$\displaystyle \liminf_{(x,y) \in \mathbb{R}^2} f(x,y) = -\...
- 26.9k
33
votes
1
answer
3k
views
About the validity of a new conjecture about a diophantine equation
Let us consider the following conjecture:
Conjecture: There are no integer solutions of the equation $$x^{y-z}z^{x-y}=y^{x-z}$$ with $x,y,z$ distinct positive integers greater than or equal to $2$.
...
- 1,197
30
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Have any numbers been proven to be normal that weren't constructed to be?
It's easy to construct an example of a number that's normal in a given base, but for most given numbers it's notoriously hard to prove that they're normal.
Has any number ever been proven to be normal ...
- 1,311
29
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Closed formula for a certain infinite series
I came across this problem while doing some simplifications.
So, I like to ask
QUESTION. Is there a closed formula for the evaluation of this series?
$$\sum_{(a,b)=1}\frac{\cos\left(\frac{a}b\right)}{...
- 43.2k
29
votes
1
answer
1k
views
About the function $\prod_{k \in \mathbb{N}}(1-\frac{x^3}{k^3})$
I'm wondering if the function $$f(x)=\prod_{k \in \mathbb{N}}\left(1-\frac{x^3}{k^3}\right)$$ has a name, or if there are any properties (especially about derivatives of $f$) have studied so far.
I ...
- 483
29
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is pi = log_a(b) for some integers a, b > 1?
Are there integers $a, b > 1$ such that $\pi = \log_a(b)$?
Or equivalently: are there integers $a,b > 1$ such that $a^\pi = b$?
Note that the transcendence of $\pi$ makes this a problem - ...
- 19.6k
28
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Expressing the Riemann Zeta function in terms of GCD and LCM
Is the following claim true: Let $\zeta(s)$ be the Riemann zeta function. I observed that as for large $n$, as $s$ increased,
$$
\frac{1}{n}\sum_{k = 1}^n\sum_{i = 1}^{k} \bigg(\frac{\gcd(k,i)}{\...
- 5,470
28
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Does $a_n=\prod^n_{k=1}(1-e^{k\alpha \pi i})$ converge to zero when $\alpha$ is irrational?
I came across a problem concerning about the convergence of products. I wonder if the complex series $a_n=\prod^n_{k=1}(1-e^{k\alpha \pi i})$ converges to zero when $\alpha$ is irrational. Of course, ...
- 1,565
27
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Kasteleyn's formula for domino tilings generalized?
It seems a marvel when a bunch of irrational numbers "conspire" to become rational, even better an integer. An elementary example is $\prod_{j=1}^n4\cos^2\left(\pi j/(2n+1)\right)=1$.
Kasteleyn's ...
- 43.2k
23
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Identity for an infinite product
Here is an experimental "result" exhibiting the difference of two (formal) infinite products that "almost factorizes".
QUESTION. Is this true?
$$\prod_{n\geq1}(1+x^{2n-1})^{24} - \...
- 43.2k
23
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Does the average primeness of natural numbers tend to zero?
This question was posted in MSE. It got many upvotes but no answer hence posting it in MO.
A number is either prime or composite, hence primality is a binary concept. Instead I wanted to put a value ...
- 5,470
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is a real power series that maps rationals to rationals defined by a rational function?
Suppose that the function $p(x)$ is defined on an open subset $U$ of $\mathbb{R}$ by a power series with real coefficients. Suppose, further, that $p$ maps rationals to rationals. Must $p$ be defined ...
- 6,199
22
votes
3
answers
2k
views
The origin of the Ramanujan's $\pi^4\approx 2143/22$ identity
What is the origin of the Ramanujan's approximate identity $$\pi^4\approx 2143/22,\;\;\tag 1$$ which is valid with $10^{-9}$ relative accuracy? For comparison, the relative accuracy of the well known $...
- 16.5k
19
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Floors of powers of reals, how much do the first few determine the next?
Call an integer sequence $\mathbf{x}=\left( x_1,x_2,\cdots \right)$ feasible if it is $f(r)=\left(\lfloor r \rfloor, \lfloor r^2 \rfloor, \lfloor r^3 \rfloor,
\ldots, \lfloor r^n \rfloor, \ldots \...
- 30.1k
18
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Bernoulli sum meets golden number
Let $B_n$ denote the Bernoulli numbers and let $\phi=\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}2$ be the golden ratio.
I encountered the following infinite sum and would like to ask:
Question. Is this true? If so, any ...
- 43.2k
15
votes
4
answers
3k
views
No Tonelli or Fubini
Whenever we can interchange summation (perhaps due to Tonelli-Fubini), good things happen. Otherwise, one has to struggle evaluating double sums in just one way, because the alternative results in a ...
15
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is the sequence of Apéry numbers a Stieltjes moment sequence?
Consider the sequence of Apéry numbers
$$
A_n = \sum_{k=0}^n \binom{n}{k}\binom{n+k}{k}\sum_{j=0}^k \binom{k}{j}^3
= \sum_{k=0}^n \binom{n}{k}^2\binom{n+k}{k}^2 .
$$
In an email, physicist Alan Sokal ...
- 41.1k
14
votes
3
answers
878
views
Infinitely many $k$ such that $[a_k,a_{k+1}]>ck^2$
Let $a_n\in \mathbf{N}$ be an infinite sequence such that $\forall i\neq j, a_i\neq a_j$.
I have the following theorem:
For $0<c<\frac{3}{2}$, there are infinitely many $k$ for which $[a_k,...
user79942
13
votes
3
answers
1k
views
iterated harmonic numbers vs Riemann zeta
Define the $m$-th iterated harmonic sums in the manner: $\bar{H}_0(n):=1$ and for
$m\geq1$ by
$$\bar{H}_m(n):=\sum_{k=1}^n\frac{\bar{H}_{m-1}(k)}k.$$
For example, $\bar{H}_1(n)=\sum_{k=1}^n\frac1k$ ...
- 43.2k
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Asymptotics of the n-th prime using the gamma function
In the paper http://rgmia.org/papers/v8n2/eepnt.pdf, the author proves that proves an explicit inequality on prime numbers using the gamma function and as a corollary, he showed that.
$$
p_n = n \...
- 5,470
13
votes
3
answers
810
views
Is $\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{S(n)}{n!}$ an irrational, where $S(n)$ denotes the sum of remainders function?
For each integer $n\geq 1$ we consider the arithmetic function $$S(n)=\sum_{k=1}^n n\text{ mod }k,\tag{1}$$
the sum of remainders function, the arithmetic function A004125 from the OEIS.
Example. We'...
12
votes
1
answer
991
views
The geometric-mean factorial
Think of the factorial as $f(n) = n \odot (n-1) \odot \cdots \odot 2 \odot 1$,
where $\odot$ is the binary operator for multiplication, $\cdot$. This suggests exploring replacing
$\odot$ with other ...
- 151k
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
In the rational numbers, is every convergent power series a Taylor series for a rational function?
David Roberts wrote in the comment section of the blog post "Convergence of an infinite sum in the rationals" the following paragraph:
Someone mentioned (I think on Twitter) that the Taylor ...
- 2,624
11
votes
1
answer
436
views
How many numbers $\le x$ can be factorized into three numbers which form the sides of a triangle?
Note: Posting in MO since it was unanswered in MSE
Definition: We say that a natural number $n$ has triangular divisors if it has at least one triplet of divisors $n = d_1d_2d_3, 1 \le d_1 \le d_2 \...
- 5,470
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Extending an assignment property from Q to R (or C)
Property of any odd number of nonnegative integers:
Given $x_1 \leq \cdots \leq x_{2n + 1}$ with each $x_i \in \mathbb{Z}_{\geq 0}$, suppose that for any $x_i$ we remove, the remaining numbers can be ...
- 7,831
11
votes
2
answers
587
views
Extracting a subsequence common to infinitely many sets from an uncountable collection with uniform positive upper density
Let $\{a_n\},\{b_n\}$ be strictly increasing sequence of positive integers satisfying $a_1<b_1<a_2<b_2<a_3<b_3<\ldots$ and $(b_n-a_n) \to \infty$. Define $I_n:= [a_n,b_n]$, meaning ...
- 271
11
votes
1
answer
430
views
Cantor set intersecting a geometric sequence
I was working on a problem involving finding all points in the intersection of the Cantor set $C$ and the geometric sequence $\{ (2/3)^i \}_{i=1}^\infty$. The only points I have in this intersection ...
- 113
11
votes
1
answer
466
views
A property of real numbers concerning integer parts of multiples
For a given positive real number $\alpha$, define the set $T_\alpha$ by
$T_\alpha = \{ [n\alpha] \mid n = 1,2,\dots \}$. What is a necessary and sufficient condition (in terms of $\alpha$ and $\beta$...
- 111
11
votes
1
answer
391
views
Is this set dense in [0,+∞)?
We define $A=\{ \frac{c}{rad(abc)}: a, b > 0, c=a+b, gcd(a, b)=1 \}$.
Is the set $A$ dense in $[0, +\infty)$?
Does $\overline{A}$ have interior? Here $\overline{A}$ is the closure of $A$.
A well-...
- 577
10
votes
2
answers
598
views
Taylor series with coefficients in $\mathbb{Q}$
Is there a sequence of rational numbers $a_0, a_1, \dotsc$ such that $\sum\limits_{i\geq 0}a_i x^i$ converges absolutely to $2^x$ for every $x\in \mathbb{Z}$?
- 141
10
votes
1
answer
755
views
The $9$th tetration of $-\sqrt2$
Let $^na$ denote the $n$th tetration of $a$, so that $^0a=1$ and
$$^{n+1}a=a^{^na}$$
for $n=0,1,\dots$. (For complex $x$ and $y$, here we use the definition $x^y:=e^{y\ln x}$, where $\ln$ is the ...
- 128k
10
votes
1
answer
961
views
Ruling out the existence of a strange polynomial II
This is a refinement of my question asked earlier, which is answered beautifully in the negative by Thomas Browning. The example he gave was geometrically reducible. Now I want to ask the same ...
- 26.9k
10
votes
2
answers
766
views
When polynomial f(x^2) can be factored as g(x)·g(-x) ?
In relation to my question Expression for the sum of square roots of zeros of a polynomial
How to characterize polynomials $f(x)$ with rational coefficients such that $f(x^2)=g(x)\cdot g(-x)$ where $...
- 34.3k
10
votes
0
answers
287
views
Coefficients of polynomials vs trigonometric product
Let's consider the family of sequences of coefficients in the expansion
$$\prod_{i=0}^{n-1}(1+x^{3^i}+x^{3^{i+1}})=\sum_{k\geq0}a_n(k)\, x^k.$$
Remark. Evidently, the RHS is a finite sum.
Here is a ...
- 43.2k
10
votes
0
answers
268
views
On the infinity of $\{p\in \mathbb {N}:\exists n\in\mathbb{N}~p| \left \lfloor{r^n}\right \rfloor\}$
I've already asked this same question on MSE here, but didn't get much help, so I will try on this site as well.
For which $r\in\mathbb{R}$ is the set $\mathscr{P}_r=\{p \in \mathbb{P}:\ (\exists n\...
- 377
10
votes
0
answers
439
views
Evaluating Shintani cone zeta functions
Hi everyone
I am trying the evaluate sums of the form
$$ \sum_{n_1>0,n_2>0,\ldots,n_m>0} \frac{1}{\big((a_{1,1}n_1 +\ldots +a_{1,m}n_m)^k \ldots (a_{m,1}n_1+ \ldots +a_{m,m}n_m)^k\big)}$$
...
- 265
9
votes
1
answer
564
views
$L^1$ norm of exponential sum of $n^2 x$
What is the asymptotic order of
$$
\int_0^1 \left| \sum_{n=1}^N e^{2 \pi i n^2 x} \right| ~dx
$$
as $N \to \infty$. This should be known, but I cannot find it in the literature.
- 2,207
9
votes
2
answers
244
views
If normal with respect to prime base then normal for all bases
I tried to find it on internet but couldn't so m asking this here. I want to ask if a number is normal with respect to all prime number base then do we know that it is normal with respect to any base. ...
- 335
9
votes
1
answer
458
views
Summing moments and Riemann zeta values
Let $d\mu_n(x)=\cos^{2n}x\,dx$ and consider the averages of moments
$$\alpha_n=\frac{\int_0^{\pi/2}x^4d\mu_n(x)}{\int_0^{\pi/2}d\mu_n(x)}.$$
Then, I have encountered a curious evaluation
$$\sum_{n=1}^{...
- 43.2k