An elementary problem equivalent to the Riemann hypothesis

In summary, the Riemann Hypothesis is equivalent to proving that for each n >= 1, the sum of divisors of n is less than or equal to the nth harmonic number plus an exponential function of the nth harmonic number. This was shown by Jeffrey C. Lagarias in his paper "An Elementary Problem Equivalent to the Riemann Hypothesis". There are other equivalent problems, such as calculating the sum of divisors for every n, but this one is particularly interesting. It is also connected to the height of the first zero off the line in the Riemann zeta function.
  • #1
benorin
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Let [tex]H_{n}=\sum_{k=1}^{n}\frac{1}{k}[/tex] be the nth harmonic number, then the Riemann hypothesis is equivalent to proving that for each [tex]n\geq 1[/tex],

[tex]\sum_{d|n}d\leq H_{n}+\mbox{exp}(H_{n})\log H_{n}[/tex]​

where equality holds iff n=1. The paper that this came from is here: An Elementary Problem Equivalent to the Riemann Hypothesis by Jeffrey C. Lagarias.

No questions, just thought it would be appreciated.
 
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  • #2
I don't understand... explain! This thread made my haed hurt!
 
  • #3
This is based on [itex]\sigma(n) = \sum_{d|n}d < e^{\gamma} n \log \log n[/itex] for all [itex]n >= 5041[/itex] being logically equivalent to the Riemann Hypothesis as shown in
Guy Robin, Grandes valeurs de la fonction somme des diviseurs et hypoth`ese de Riemann,J. Math. Pures Appl. (9) 63 (1984), 187–213.
See also: http://arxiv.org/abs/math.NT/0604314
 
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  • #4
[tex]H_{n}=\sum{k=1}^{n}\frac{1}{k}[/tex]
should be
[tex]H_n= \sum_{k=1}^{n}\frac{1}{k}[/tex]
 
  • #5
-Beatiful problem..but completely useless...:frown: :frown: the problem itself is even more problematic than RH..since you can calculate every Harmonic Number (approximately) the problem is to calculate:

[tex] \sum_{d|n} d [/tex] for every n even for n big.
 
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  • #6
There are other equivalences that can be considered 'elementary', the error term in prime number theorem, bounds for the sum of the moebius function..

This one is nice quite nice though. I wonder if there's any connection between the height of the first zero off the line and the smallest counterexample to this criterea (assuming false of course).

cracker said:
I don't understand... explain! This thread made my haed hurt!

It's hard to know where to start on such an open question. There are lots of threads on the Riemann Hypothesis, try doing a search for them. What specific things are bothering you?
 

Related to An elementary problem equivalent to the Riemann hypothesis

1. What is the Riemann hypothesis and why is it important?

The Riemann hypothesis is considered one of the most important unsolved problems in mathematics. It states that all non-trivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function lie on the critical line, which is a vertical line on the complex plane. This hypothesis has important implications in number theory and has connections to other mathematical fields such as physics and cryptography.

2. What is the "elementary problem" that is equivalent to the Riemann hypothesis?

The "elementary problem" refers to a simpler version of the Riemann hypothesis that has the same mathematical structure. This problem involves finding a function that has the same critical line as the Riemann zeta function, but with simpler properties that can be more easily proven.

3. How long has the Riemann hypothesis been unsolved?

The Riemann hypothesis was first proposed by Bernhard Riemann in 1859 and has remained unsolved for over 160 years. Many mathematicians have attempted to prove or disprove the hypothesis, but it still remains one of the most challenging problems in mathematics.

4. What progress has been made towards solving the Riemann hypothesis?

There have been several breakthroughs and developments towards solving the Riemann hypothesis, but it still remains unproven. Some mathematicians have shown that the hypothesis holds for certain cases, but a general proof has yet to be found. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the problem and new techniques have been developed to approach it.

5. What would be the significance of solving the Riemann hypothesis?

If the Riemann hypothesis is proven to be true, it would have significant implications in various areas of mathematics, including number theory, analysis, and algebraic geometry. It could also lead to new insights and discoveries in other fields, such as physics and computer science. However, if the hypothesis is proven to be false, it would also have a major impact on mathematics by challenging some of the fundamental assumptions and theories that have been built upon it.

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