Finding almost squares. IV (Q1024164)

In this series, the author studies \textit{almost squares}: i.e., integers \(n\) that can be represented in the form \(n = ab\) for some integers \(a\) and \(b\), with \(1 \leq a, b \leq 3\sqrt n\). In the paper under review, he proves that the interval \((x, x + (\log x)^{12}]\) contains an almost square for all but \(o(X)\) values of \(x \in (0, X]\). He also demonstrates that the exponent of the logarithm in this result cannot be reduced below \(1 - (1 + \log\log2)/\log2 = 0.086\dots\). Part III, see Integers 9, Suppl., Article A2, 7-16 (2009; Zbl 1229.11121).