A generalization of the Hardy-Ramanujan inequality and applications (Q2291704)

The famous inequality of [\textit{G. H. Hardy} and \textit{S. Ramanujan}, Quart. J. 48, 76--92 (1917; JFM 46.0262.03)] for the number of $n\leq x$ which have exactly k distinct prime factors, is extended to a sum on a multiplicative function $f(n)$ for $n\leq x$ and $n$ having $k$ distinct prime factors. Particularly, a mean value theorem of [\textit{R. R. Hall} and \textit{G. Tenenbaum}, Divisors. Cambridge (UK) etc.: Cambridge University Press (1988; Zbl 0653.10001)] is reobtained. The same idea is used to establish a variant of a theorem of [\textit{B. M. Shirokov}, Zap. Nauchn. Semin. Leningr. Otd. Mat. Inst. Steklova 106, 158--169 (1981; Zbl 0486.10003)].