On positive integers \(n\) such that \(\varphi(1)+\varphi(2)+\cdots+ \varphi(n)\) is a square (Q1959044)

From MaRDI portal
scientific article
Language Label Description Also known as
English
On positive integers \(n\) such that \(\varphi(1)+\varphi(2)+\cdots+ \varphi(n)\) is a square
scientific article

    Statements

    On positive integers \(n\) such that \(\varphi(1)+\varphi(2)+\cdots+ \varphi(n)\) is a square (English)
    0 references
    0 references
    1 October 2010
    0 references
    Let \(a_n= \sum_{1\leq m\leq n}\varphi(m)\), where \(\varphi(m)\) denotes Euler's function, and let \(S(x)= \{n\leq x: a_n\) is a perfect square\} which has \(\# S(x)\) elements. The authors show that \(\# S(x)\leq c_0x(\log x)^{-0.0003}\) for \(x> 2\), where \(c_0\) is a positive constant. The proof is an intricate combinatorial argument in which an upper bound is derived for the size of various subsets of \(S(x)\) satisfying certain conditions and these are combined to give the result. The authors conjecture that \(\# S(x)\to\infty\) as \(x\to\infty\). In [Lith. Math. J. 47, No. 3, 243--247 (2007)], the first author considers the corresponding problem for the sum of the first \(n\) primes.
    0 references
    0 references
    Euler function
    0 references
    sieve methods
    0 references