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
2,363 questions
72
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Can you solve the listed smallest open Diophantine equations?
In 2018, Zidane asked What is the smallest unsolved Diophantine equation? The suggested way to measure size is substitute 2 instead of all variables, absolute values instead of all coefficients, and ...
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49
votes
2
answers
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Is this Riemann zeta function product equal to the Fourier transform of the von Mangoldt function?
Mathematica knows that:
$$\log(n) = \lim\limits_{s \rightarrow 1} \zeta(s)\left(1 - \frac{1}{n^{(s - 1)}}\right)\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\; (1)$$
The von Mangoldt function should then be:
$$\Lambda(n)=...
175
votes
2
answers
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Estimating the size of solutions of a diophantine equation
A. Is there natural numbers $a,b,c$ such that $\frac{a}{b+c} + \frac{b}{a+c} + \frac{c}{a+b}$ is equal to an odd natural number ?
(I do not know any such numbers).
B. Suppose that $\frac{a}{b+c} + \...
- 1,881
109
votes
6
answers
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How small can a sum of a few roots of unity be?
Let $n$ be a large natural number, and let $z_1, \ldots, z_{10}$ be (say) ten $n^{th}$ roots of unity: $z_1^n = \ldots = z_{10}^n = 1$. Suppose that the sum $S = z_1+\ldots+z_{10}$ is non-zero. How ...
- 114k
119
votes
8
answers
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Zagier's one-sentence proof of a theorem of Fermat
Zagier has a very short proof (MR1041893, JSTOR) for the fact that every prime number $p$ of the form $4k+1$ is the sum of two squares.
The proof defines an involution of the set $S= \lbrace (x,y,z) \...
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50
votes
4
answers
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Is there an "elementary" proof of the infinitude of completely split primes?
Let $K$ be a Galois extension of the rationals with degree $n$. The Chebotarev Density Theorem guarantees that the rational primes that split completely in $K$ have density $1/n$ and thus there are ...
- 44.4k
32
votes
3
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About Goldbach's conjecture
let's consider a composite natural number $n$ greater or equal to $4$. Goldbach's conjecture is equivalent to the following statement: "there is at least one natural number $r$ such as $(n-r)$ ...
- 6,974
29
votes
7
answers
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Asymptotic density of k-almost primes
Let $\pi_k(x)=|\{n\le x:n=p_1p_2\cdots p_k\}|$ be the counting function for the k-almost primes, generalizing $\pi(x)=\pi_1(x)$. A result of Landau is
$$\pi_k(x)\sim\frac{x(\log\log x)^{k-1}}{(k-1)!\...
- 9,114
10
votes
0
answers
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Is the conjecture A+B=C following correct?
Is the conjecture on A+B=C following correct ?
Conjecture: Let $A, B, C$ be three positive integer numbers such that $A+B=C$ with $\gcd(A, B, C) = 1$. By Fundamental theorem of arithmetic we write:
$...
- 1,776
56
votes
7
answers
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What is the smallest unsolved Diophantine equation?
If $P=\sum_{\bf i} a_{\bf i}x^{\bf i}\in {\mathbb Z}[x_1,\dots,x_d]$, let $|P|=\sum_{\bf i}|a_{\bf i}|x^{\bf i}$ and $h(P)=|P|(2,\dots,2)$, so that there is only a finite number of $P$ with $h(P)\leq ...
- 937
43
votes
3
answers
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Which integers can be expressed as a sum of three cubes in infinitely many ways?
For fixed $n \in \mathbb{N}$ consider integer solutions to
$$x^3+y^3+z^3=n \qquad (1) $$
If $n$ is a cube or twice a cube, identities exist.
Elkies suggests no other polynomial identities are known.
...
- 25.4k
13
votes
3
answers
1k
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Bound the error in estimating a relative totient function
Let $n=p_1^{e_1}\cdots p_k^{e_k}$ be an integer with $k$ prime factors. We know that the number of integers less than $n$ and coprime to it is
$$\Phi(n)=n-\sum_i\frac n{p_i}+\sum_{i \lt j}\frac n{...
- 30.1k
11
votes
0
answers
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Would the following conjectures imply $\lim\inf_{n\to\infty}p_{n+k}-p_{n}=O(k\log k)$?
Assume Goldbach's conjecture. Then for every $n\ge 2$ there exists at least one non-negative integer $r\le n-2$ such that both $n+r$ and $n-r$ are primes. Let's write $r_{0}(n):=\inf\{r\le n-2, (n-r,n+...
- 6,974
44
votes
2
answers
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What is known about the sum x^{n^2}/n?
It follows from a general theorem of Honda that the formal group with the logarithm
$$
x+x^{2^s}/2+x^{3^s}/3+x^{4^s}/4+\cdots
$$
has integer coefficients. I became interested in it because its $p$-...
- 18.4k
36
votes
3
answers
7k
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Distinct numbers in multiplication table
Consider the multiplication table for the numbers $1,2,\dots, n$. How many different numbers are there? That is, how many different numbers of the form $ij$ with $1 \le i, j \le n$ are there?
I'm ...
- 2,821
22
votes
3
answers
2k
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Hecke equidistribution
For a prime $p\equiv 1\pmod{4}$, we can write $p=a^2+b^2=N(a+bi)$. Therefore
$$
a+bi=p^{1/2}e^{i\varphi}
$$
where $\varphi\in [0,2\pi]$. I know that Hecke proved that $\varphi$ is equidistributed. I ...
- 2,508
20
votes
3
answers
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sum of squares in ring of integers
Lagrange proved that every positive integer is a sum of 4 squares.
Are there general results like this for rings of integers of number fields? Is this class field theory?
Explicitly, suppose a ...
user2529
58
votes
3
answers
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Number of elements in the set $\{1,\cdots,n\}\cdot\{1,\cdots,n\}$
Let $A_n=\{a\cdot b : a,b \in \mathbb{N}, a,b\leq n\}$. Are there any estimates for $|A_n|$? Will it be $o(n^2)$?
- 897
46
votes
7
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Are some numbers more irrational than others?
Some irrational numbers are transcendental, which makes them in some sense "more irrational" than algebraic numbers. There are also numbers, such as the golden ratio $\varphi$, which are poorly ...
- 1,823
40
votes
4
answers
7k
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Which number fields are monogenic? and related questions
A number field $K$ is said to be monogenic when $\mathcal{O}_K=\mathbb{Z}[\alpha]$ for some $\alpha\in\mathcal{O}_K$. What is currently known about which $K$ are monogenic? Which are not? From Marcus'...
- 6,792
25
votes
1
answer
2k
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The abc-conjecture as an inequality for inner-products?
The abc-conjecture is:
For every $\epsilon > 0$ there exists $K_{\epsilon}$ such that for all natural numbers $a \neq b$ we have:
$$ \frac{a+b}{\gcd(a,b)}\,\ <\,\ K_{\epsilon}\cdot \text{rad}\...
user6671
530
votes
3
answers
58k
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Polynomial bijection from $\mathbb Q\times\mathbb Q$ to $\mathbb Q$?
Is there any polynomial $f(x,y)\in{\mathbb Q}[x,y]{}$ such that $f\colon\mathbb{Q}\times\mathbb{Q} \rightarrow\mathbb{Q}$ is a bijection?
- 5,353
82
votes
5
answers
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Inaccessible cardinals and Andrew Wiles's proof
In a recent issue of New Scientist (16 Aug 2010), I was surprised to read that a part of Wiles' proof of Taniyama-Shimura conjecture relies on inaccessible cardinals.
Here's the article
Richard Elwes,...
- 1,101
79
votes
12
answers
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Is there a high-concept explanation for why characteristic 2 is special?
The structure of the multiplicative groups of $\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}$ or of $\mathbb{Z}_p$ is the same for odd primes, but not for $2.$ Quadratic reciprocity has a uniform statement for odd primes, ...
- 118k
61
votes
5
answers
12k
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Is the Riemann Hypothesis equivalent to a $\Pi_1$ sentence?
1) Can the Riemann Hypothesis (RH) be expressed as a $\Pi_1$ sentence?
More formally,
2) Is there a $\Pi_1$ sentence which is provably equivalent to RH in PA?
Update (July 2010):
So we have two ...
- 5,502
49
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What fraction of the integer lattice can be seen from the origin?
Consider the integer lattice points in the positive quadrant $Q$ of $\mathbb{Z}^2$.
Say that a point $(x,y)$ of $Q$ is visible from the origin if the
segment from $(0,0)$ to $(x,y) \in Q$ passes ...
- 151k
49
votes
5
answers
5k
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Are the two meanings of "undecidable" related?
I am usually confused by questions of the type "could such and such a problem be undecidable", because as far as I know there are two distinct possible meanings of "undecidable". ...
- 18.7k
45
votes
1
answer
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Is it possible to show that $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{\mu(n)}{\sqrt{n}}$ diverges?
Let $\mu(n)$ denote the Mobius function with the well-known Dirichlet series representation
$$
\frac{1}{\zeta(s)} = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{\mu(n)}{n^{s}}.
$$
Basic theorems about Dirichlet series ...
- 20.4k
36
votes
3
answers
4k
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Is there a ring of integers except for Z, such that every extension of it is ramified?
This is probably common knowledge, alas I have to confess my ignorance.
In simpler more abstract language, does $\mathcal{O}_K$ being simply connected (having trivial etale $\pi_1$) imply $\mathcal{O}...
- 6,348
29
votes
4
answers
6k
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distance between powers of 2 and powers of 3
I expect this is a classical question, so feel free to point me to classical answers: what is the fastest-growing function $f(t)$ for which we know that
$$
|2^t - 3^{t'}| \ge f(\min(t,t')) \;?
$$
In ...
- 423
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
distribution of coprime integers
Let $0 < a < 1$ be fixed, and integer $n$ tends to infinity. It is not hard to show that the number of integers $k$ coprime to $n$ such that $1\leq k\leq an$ asymtotically equals $(a+o(1))\...
- 109k
137
votes
2
answers
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Consequences resulting from Yitang Zhang's latest claimed results on Landau-Siegel zeros
Very recently, Yitang Zhang just gave a (virtual) talk about his work on Landau-Siegel zeros at Shandong University on the 5th of November's morning in China. He will also give a talk on 8th November ...
- 1,503
296
votes
8
answers
143k
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Philosophy behind Mochizuki's work on the ABC conjecture
Mochizuki has recently announced a proof of the ABC conjecture. It is far too early to judge its correctness, but it builds on many years of work by him. Can someone briefly explain the philosophy ...
60
votes
6
answers
7k
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Has decidability got something to do with primes?
Note: I have modified the question to make it clearer and more relevant. That makes some of references to the old version no longer hold. I hope the victims won't be furious over this.
Motivation:
...
- 2,824
58
votes
9
answers
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Learning Class Field Theory: Local or Global First?
I've noticed that there seem to be two approaches to learning class field theory. The first is to first learn about local fields and local class field theory, and then prove the basic theorems about ...
- 15.4k
52
votes
4
answers
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How hard is it to compute the number of prime factors of a given integer?
I asked a related question on this mathoverflow thread. That question was promptly answered. This is a natural followup question to that one, which I decided to repost since that question is answered.
...
- 2,416
49
votes
4
answers
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Are there primes of every Hamming weight?
Are there primes of every Hamming weight? That is, for every integer $n \in \mathbb{Z}_{>0}$ does there exist a prime which is the sum of $n$ distinct powers of $2$?
In this case, the Hamming ...
- 593
48
votes
5
answers
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The resultant and the ideal generated by two polynomials in $\mathbb{Z}[x]$
I was asked the following question by a colleague and was embarrassed not to know the answer.
Let $f(x), g(x) \in \mathbb{Z}[x]$ with no root in common. Let $I = (f(x),g(x))\cap \mathbb{Z}$, that is, ...
- 30.5k
47
votes
1
answer
3k
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improving known bounds for Pierce expansions; cash prize
Here's a problem that I thought of back in 1978 or so, and only a little progress has been made on it since then. I still think about it from time to time, but probably not that many people have ...
- 3,028
40
votes
8
answers
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How does one motivate the analytic continuation of the Riemann zeta function?
I saw the functional equation and its proof for the Riemann zeta function many times, but usually the books start with, e.g. tricky change of variable of Gamma function or other seemingly unmotivated ...
- 3,806
29
votes
1
answer
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Is the Golomb countable connected space topologically rigid?
The Golomb space $\mathbb G$ is the set of positive integers endowed with the topology generated by the base consisting of the arithmetic progressions $a+b\mathbb N_0$ with relatively prime $a,b$ and $...
- 41.8k
26
votes
5
answers
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Are the 'semi' trivial zeros of $\zeta(s) \pm \zeta(1-s)$ all on the critical line?
The proof that $\Gamma(z)\pm \Gamma(1-z)$ only has zeros for $z \in \mathbb{R}$ or $z= \frac12 +i \mathbb{R}$ has been given here:
Are all zeros of $\Gamma(s) \pm \Gamma(1-s)$ on a line with real ...
- 4,169
22
votes
5
answers
7k
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Rational points on a sphere in $\mathbb{R}^d$
Call a point of $\mathbb{R}^d$ rational if all its $d$ coordinates are rational numbers.
Q1.
Are the rational points dense on the unit sphere $S :\; x_1^2 +\cdots+ x_d^2 = 1$, i.e. does $S$ ...
- 151k
21
votes
4
answers
3k
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Is the Euler product formula always divergent for 0<Re(s)<1?
It is known that the Euler product formula converges for $\Re(s)>1$
(and there it represents the Riemann zeta function).
My question: Is the Euler product always divergent for
$0 < \Re(s) < ...
- 255
20
votes
2
answers
2k
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On a result attributed to W. Ljunggren and T. Nagell
I've read in a number of places that, building on previous work of T. Nagell, W. Ljunggren proved in 1 that the Diophantine equation
$$\frac{x^{n}-1}{x-1} = y^{2}$$
doesn't admit solutions in ...
- 8,842
20
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Erik Westzynthius's cool upper bound argument: update?
Version 2 of this writeup is
available, and includes a newer and simple upper bound thanks to
MathOverflow 88777 as
well as indirect references to future writeups. Details of further work
...
- 13k
17
votes
1
answer
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What is known about the relationship between Fermat's last theorem and Peano Arithmetic?
As far as I know, whether Fermat's Last Theorem is provable in Peano Arithmetic is an open problem. What is known about this problem?
In particular, what is known about the arithmetic systems $PA + \...
- 6,353
5
votes
3
answers
2k
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Goldbach conjecture and other problems in additive combinatorics
The field is also known as additive number theory. I am interested in sums $z=x + y$ where $x \in S, y\in T$, and both $S, T$ are infinite sets of positive integers. For instance:
$S = T$ is the set ...
- 3,098
4
votes
3
answers
606
views
Why is this bipartite graph a partial cube, if it is?
Since the set $\{\log(p) \mid p \text{ is prime, } p \le n \}$ for a natural number $n$ is $\mathbb{Q}$-linear independent and since:
$$\log(m) = \sum_{p\mid m} v_p(m) \log(p)$$
we can view each $\log(...
- 3,064
185
votes
11
answers
52k
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Knuth's intuition that Goldbach might be unprovable
Knuth's intuition that Goldbach's conjecture (every even number greater than 2 can be written as a sum of two primes) might be one of the statements that can neither be proved nor disproved really ...
- 2,745