Questions tagged [nt.number-theory]
Prime numbers, diophantine equations, diophantine approximations, analytic or algebraic number theory, arithmetic geometry, Galois theory, transcendental number theory, continued fractions
2,276
questions
77
votes
9
answers
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Irreducibility of polynomials in two variables
Let $k$ be a field. I am interested in sufficient criteria for $f \in k[x,y]$ to be irreducible. An example is Theorem A of this paper (Brindza and Pintér, On the irreducibility of some polynomials in ...
- 30.3k
59
votes
1
answer
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views
Is the Green-Tao theorem true for primes within a given arithmetic progression?
Ben Green and Terrence Tao proved that there are arbitrary length arithmetic progressions among the primes.
Now, consider an arithmetic progression with starting term $a$ and common difference $d$. ...
- 3,569
56
votes
2
answers
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views
What arithmetic information is contained in the algebraic K-theory of the integers
I'm always looking for applications of homotopy theory to other fields, mostly as a way to make my talks more interesting or to motivate the field to non-specialists. It seems like most talks about ...
- 29.8k
55
votes
4
answers
4k
views
An interesting integral expression for $\pi^n$?
I came on the following multiple integral while renormalizing elliptic multiple zeta values:
$$\int_0^1\cdots \int_0^1\int_1^\infty {{1}\over{t_n(t_{n-1}+t_n)\cdots (t_1+\cdots+t_n)}} dt_n\cdots dt_1.$...
- 1,277
53
votes
6
answers
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Are all zeros of $\Gamma(s) \pm \Gamma(1-s)$ on a line with real part = $\frac12$ ?
The function $\Gamma(s)$ does not have zeros, but $\Gamma(s)\pm \Gamma(1-s)$ does.
Ignoring the real solutions for now and assuming $s \in \mathbb{C}$ then:
$\Gamma(s)-\Gamma(1-s)$ yields zeros at:
...
- 4,169
46
votes
4
answers
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views
Why could Mertens not prove the prime number theorem?
We know that
$$
\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 ...
- 4,638
43
votes
8
answers
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Approaches to Riemann hypothesis using methods outside number theory [closed]
Background: Once an analytic number theorist remarked to me that all attempts to prove the Riemann hypothesis using number theoretic methods have failed. Since then that remark stuck in my mind.
The ...
37
votes
5
answers
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Are nontrivial integer solutions known for $x^3+y^3+z^3=3$?
The Diophantine equation
$$x^3+y^3+z^3=3$$
has four easy integer solutions: $(1,1,1)$ and the three permutations of $(4,4,-5)$. Elsenhans and Jahnel wrote in 2007 that these were all the solutions ...
- 2,330
35
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Cliques, Paley graphs and quadratic residues
A question I've thought about, on and off for a long time, is how to improve the best bounds that (seem to be) known for the clique numbers of Paley graphs.
If p=1 mod 4 is a prime, we can define the ...
- 703
29
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Good uses of Siegel zeros?
The short version of my question goes: What is known to follow from the existence of Siegel zeros?
A longer version to give an idea of what I have in mind: The "exceptional zeros" of course first ...
- 291
29
votes
6
answers
4k
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Infinitely many primes of the form $2^n+c$ as $n$ varies?
At the time of writing, question 5191 is closed with the accusation of homework. But I don't have a clue about what is going on in that question (other than part 3) [Edit: Anton's comments at 5191 ...
- 40.8k
29
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Modular forms of fractional weight
Modular forms of integral weight are prominent in number theory.
Furthermore, there are $\theta$-functions and the $\eta$-function, having weight 1/2,
which also have a rich theory.
But I have never ...
- 2,714
23
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Is there a simple way to compute the number of ways to write a positive integer as the sum of three squares?
It's a standard theorem that the number of ways to write a positive integer N as the sum of two squares is given by four times the difference between its number of divisors which are congruent to 1 ...
- 13.9k
22
votes
2
answers
1k
views
A closed form for an integral expressed as a finite series of $\zeta(2k+1)$, $\pi^m$ and a rational?
In this paper the following beautiful integral expression for $\zeta(3)$ is derived:
$$\zeta(3)=\frac{1}{7}\,\int_0^{\pi} x\,(\pi-x)\csc(x)\, dx$$
In a comment at the end of this question, I ...
- 4,169
21
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Squarefree parts of Mersenne numbers
The $n$-th Mersenne number is $M_n=2^n-1$. Write $M_n=a_n b_n^2$ where $a_n$ is positive and squarefree.
Question 1: What lower bound can be proved for $a_n$?
Let $A$ be the set of all possible $...
- 3,132
17
votes
0
answers
956
views
Groups generated by 3 involutions
Let $r(m)$ denote the residue class $r+m\mathbb{Z}$, where $0 \leq r < m$.
Given disjoint residue classes $r_1(m_1)$ and $r_2(m_2)$, let the class transposition
$\tau_{r_1(m_1),r_2(m_2)}$ be the ...
- 19.5k
16
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Many representations as a sum of three squares
Let $r_3(n) = \left|\{(a,b,c)\in {\mathbb Z}^3 :\, a^2+b^2+c^2=n \}\right|$. I am looking for the maximum asymptotic size of $r_3(n)$. That is, the maximum number of representations that a number can ...
- 1,052
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 ...
- 7,741
10
votes
2
answers
3k
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least prime in a arithmetic progression
Hello
Here I want to consider the simplest arithmetic progression $n\equiv 1\pmod{q}$ where $q$ is a prime. Is it true that we can find a prime $p\leq q^2$ in this arithmetic progression?
This ...
- 2,468
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Integral orthogonal group for indefinite ternary quadratic form
I have the indefinite quadratic form $q(x,y,z) = 19 x^2 + 5 y^2 - z^2.$ It's not my fault. I find, on reflection, that I have no idea how to describe the orthogonal group of this over the integers. ...
- 25.4k
5
votes
3
answers
596
views
On level $10$ of the McKay-Thompson series of the Monster
(For brevity, the level-6 functions have been migrated to another post.)
I. Level-10 functions
Given the Dedekind eta function $\eta(\tau)$. To recall, for level-6,
$$j_{6A} = \left(\sqrt{j_{6B}} + \...
- 12.1k
5
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How do these primes jump?
Update 2017.08.28: I am still looking for references. I have posted a request to https://cs.stackexchange.com/q/79971 which includes some literature references I found which are of interest but still ...
- 13k
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are there infinitely many L-rigs?
$\DeclareMathOperator{\Q}{\mathbb{Q}}$Call "L-rig" any class $\mathcal{L}$ of L-functions of automorphic representations of $\operatorname{GL}_{n}(\mathbb{A}_{\Q})$ for some $n$ belonging to ...
- 6,932
166
votes
3
answers
39k
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Convergence of $\sum(n^3\sin^2n)^{-1}$
I saw a while ago in a book by Clifford Pickover, that whether the Flint Hills series $\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac1{n^3\sin^2 n}$ converges is open.
I would think that the question of its ...
- 32.2k
114
votes
4
answers
25k
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Is the series $\sum_n|\sin n|^n/n$ convergent?
Problem. Is the series $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{|\sin(n)|^n}n$$convergent?
(The problem was posed on 22.06.2017 by Ph D students of H.Steinhaus Center of Wroclaw Polytechnica. The promised prize for ...
- 4,435
86
votes
9
answers
13k
views
Why should I believe the Mordell Conjecture?
It was Faltings who first proved in 1983 the Mordell conjecture, that a curve of genus 2 or more over a number field has only finitely many rational points.
I am interested to know why Mordell and ...
- 2,797
82
votes
30
answers
68k
views
Applications of the Chinese remainder theorem
As the title suggests I am interested in CRT applications. Wikipedia article on CRT lists some of the well known applications (e.g. used in the RSA algorithm, used to construct an elegant Gödel ...
80
votes
10
answers
9k
views
Existence of a zero-sum subset
Some time ago I heard this question and tried playing around with it. I've never succeeded to making actual progress. Here it goes:
Given a finite (nonempty) set of real numbers, $S=\{a_1,a_2,\dots, ...
- 85.1k
73
votes
10
answers
17k
views
Why does the Gamma-function complete the Riemann Zeta function?
Defining $$\xi(s) := \pi^{-s/2}\ \Gamma\left(\frac{s}{2}\right)\ \zeta(s)$$ yields $\xi(s) = \xi(1 - s)$ (where $\zeta$ is the Riemann Zeta function).
Is there any conceptual explanation - or ...
- 12k
69
votes
4
answers
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views
Is a "non-analytic" proof of Dirichlet's theorem on primes known or possible?
It is well-known that one can prove certain special cases of Dirichlet's theorem by exhibiting an integer polynomial $p(x)$ with the properties that the prime divisors of $\{ p(n) | n \in \mathbb{Z} \}...
- 115k
68
votes
3
answers
9k
views
What is the status of the Gauss Circle Problem?
For $r > 0$, let $L(r) = \# \{ (x,y) \in \mathbb{Z}^2 \ | \ x^2 + y^2 \leq r^2\}$ be the number of lattice points lying on or inside the standard circle of radius $r$. It is easy to see that $L(r) ...
- 64.8k
63
votes
4
answers
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views
Proof that pi is transcendental that doesn't use the infinitude of primes
I just taught the classical impossible constructions for the first time, and in finding my class a reference for the transcendence of pi, I found a dearth of distinct proofs. In particular, those ...
- 1,501
55
votes
2
answers
19k
views
What is the state of our ignorance about the normality of pi?
Famously, it is not known whether $\pi$ is a normal number. Indeed, there are far weaker statements that are not known, such as the statement that there are infinitely many 7s in the decimal expansion ...
- 28.7k
54
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Walsh Fourier transform of the Möbius function
This question is related to this previous question where I asked about ordinary Fourier coefficients.
Special case: is Möbius nearly orthogonal to Morse
August Ferdinand Möbius (November 17, 1790 – ...
45
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Integer-valued factorial ratios
This historical question recalls
Pafnuty Chebyshev's estimates for the prime distribution function. In his derivation
Chebyshev used the factorial ratio sequence
$$
u_n=\frac{(30n)!n!}{(15n)!(10n)!(6n)...
- 13.4k
43
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Why is Class Field Theory the same as Langlands for GL_1?
I've heard many people say that class field theory is the same as the Langlands conjectures for GL_1 (and more specifically, that local Langlands for GL_1 is the same as local class field theory). ...
- 15.1k
41
votes
3
answers
4k
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From Zeta Functions to Curves
Let $C$ be a nonsingular projective curve of genus $g \geq 0$ over a finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$ with $q$ elements. From this curve, we define the zeta function
$$Z_{C/{\mathbb{F}}_q}(u) = \exp\left(\...
- 8,179
40
votes
5
answers
18k
views
Primes P such that ((P-1)/2)!=1 mod P
I was looking at Wilson's theorem: If $P$ is a prime then $(P-1)!\equiv -1\pmod P$. I realized this
implies that for primes $P\equiv 3\pmod 4$, that $\left(\frac{P-1}{2}\right)!\equiv \pm1 \pmod P$.
...
- 2,814
39
votes
5
answers
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Does there exist a comprehensive compilation of Erdos's open problems?
Fan Chung and Ron Graham's book Erdos on Graphs: His Legacy of Unsolved Problems (A. K. Peters, 1998) collects together all of Erdos's open problems in graph theory that they could find into a single ...
- 78.7k
35
votes
3
answers
4k
views
In which ways can the isogeny theorem fail for local fields?
Fix a field $K$ with absolute Galois group $G$. By an isogeny theorem over $K$, I mean the statement that the map $\operatorname{Hom}(A,B)\otimes\mathbb{Z}_l \to \operatorname{Hom}_G(T_l A, T_l B)$ is ...
- 30.2k
34
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Representations of $\zeta(3)$ as continued fractions involving cubic polynomials
$\zeta(3)$ has at least two well-known representations of the form $$\zeta(3)=\cfrac{k}{p(1) - \cfrac{1^6}{p(2)- \cfrac{2^6}{ p(3)- \cfrac{3^6}{p(4)-\ddots } }}},$$
where $k\in\mathbb Q$ and $p$ is a ...
- 13.2k
32
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Work on independence of pi and e
It is an open problem to prove that $\pi$ and $e$ are algebraically independent over $\mathbb{Q}$.
What are some of the important results leading toward proving this?
What are the most promising ...
- 1,402
26
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Are most curves over Q pointless?
Fresh out of the arXiv press is the remarkable result of Manjul Bhargava saying that most hyperelliptic curves over $\mathbf{Q}$ have no rational points. Don Zagier suggests the paraphrase : Most ...
- 18.5k
26
votes
3
answers
2k
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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 ...
- 41.8k
23
votes
1
answer
1k
views
On the smallest open Diophantine equations: beyond Hilbert's 10 problem
In 2018, Zidane asked What is the smallest unsolved Diophantine equation? The suggested way to measure size of the equation is substitute 2 instead of all variables, absolute values instead of all ...
- 5,957
23
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Sequences with integral means
Let $S(n)$ be the sequence whose first element is $n$, and from then onward,
the next element is the smallest natural number ${\ge}1$ that ensures that the
mean of all the numbers in the sequence is ...
- 149k
22
votes
6
answers
7k
views
A finitely generated $\mathbb{Z}$-algebra that is a field has to be finite
I was trying to understand completely the post of Terrence Tao on Ax-Grothendieck theorem. This is very cute. Using finite fields you prove that every injective polynomial map $\mathbb C^n\to \mathbb ...
- 14k
21
votes
9
answers
21k
views
Is there an algorithm to solve quadratic Diophantine equations?
I was asked two questions related to Diophantine equations.
Can one find all integer triplets $(x,y,z)$ satisfying $x^2 + x = y^2 + y + z^2 + z$? I mean some kind of parametrization which gives all ...
- 213
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
State of knowledge of $a^n+b^n=c^n+d^n$ vs. $a^n+b^n+c^n=d^n+e^n+f^n$
As far as I understand, both of the Diophantine equations
$$a^5 + b^5 = c^5 + d^5$$
and
$$a^6 + b^6 = c^6 + d^6$$
have no known nontrivial solutions, but
$$24^5 + 28^5 + 67^5 = 3^5+64^5+62^5$$
and
$$3^...
- 149k
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Euler numbers and permanent of matrices
Motivated by Question 402249 of Zhi-Wei Sun, I consider the permanent of matrices
$$e(n)=\mathrm{per}\left[\operatorname{sgn} \left(\tan\pi\frac{j+k}n \right)\right]_{1\le j,k\le n-1},$$
where $n$ is ...
- 844