Les nombres pratiques: Théorie, observations et conjectures. (Practical numbers: Theory, observations, and conjectures) (Q752051)

A positive integer m is called practical number if every integer n with \(1\leq n\leq \sigma (m)\) is a sum of distinct divisors of m. This notion has been introduced in 1948 by A. K. Srinivasan and studied later by B. M. Stewart, D. F. Robinson and M. R. Heyworth. The present paper contains an extensive version, with proofs, of an earlier article by the author [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 299, 895-898 (1984; Zbl 0572.10007)]. Various characterizations of practical numbers are given with the study of certain algebraic and density properties. Among the topics treated are the occurence of practical numbers in arithmetic progressions, properties of arithmetic functions on the set of practical numbers, and related functions. The proofs are mainly based on elementary number-theoretic results. The paper is closed with certain interesting conjectures suggested by numerical evidence. \(\{\) Reviewer's remark: In their paper ``On practical numbers'' \textit{M. Hausman} and \textit{H. N. Shapiro} [Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 37, 705-713 (1984; Zbl 0544.10005)] proved stronger asymptotic results and the interesting fact that for all \(x\geq 1\) there is always a practical number between \(x^ 2\) and \((x+1)^ 2.\)\}