New congruences for odd perfect numbers (Q2477818)

The authors present congruences for odd perfect numbers. Let \(\sigma(n)\) denote the sum of divisor-function and \[ E= \sum_{1\leq k<\frac n2}\sigma(2k- 1)\sigma(2n- 2k+ 1),\qquad N= \sum_{\frac n2<k\leq n}\sigma(2n- 2k+ 1). \] If \(n\) is odd and perfect, then \[ E\equiv -2n+ 1\pmod{32},\qquad N\equiv 6n- 3\pmod{32}, \] improving the congruence \(E\equiv 1\pmod 2\) of \textit{J. A. Ewell} [Rocky Mt. J. Math. 29, No. 1, 165--175 (1999; Zbl 0942.11008)]. Lemma 2.3 is incorrect (\(r(n)\) can be zero); Prop. 2.4 is a special case of Prop. 2.2.