scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1175889

Publication date 16 July 1998

computer aided study concatenated sequences harmonic series non-recursive sequences partition sequences periodic sequences recursive integer sequences Smarandache prime product sequences Smarandache type sequences

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to number theory (11-01) Software, source code, etc. for problems pertaining to number theory (11-04) Arithmetic functions; related numbers; inversion formulas (11A25) Recurrences (11B37) Sequences and sets (11B99) Calculation of integer sequences (11Y55) Values of arithmetic functions; tables (11Y70)

Review text

This interesting booklet contains a systematic computer aided study of some Smarandache type sequences. It contains the following six chapters: Partition sequences; Recursive integer sequences; Non-recursive sequences; Periodic sequences; Concatenated sequences; On the harmonic series. In the first five chapters certain ``non-orthodox strange sequences introduced by Smarandache are considered. For example, the Smarandache two-digit periodic sequence is defined in the following way: let \(N_k\) be an integer of at most two digits. \(N_k'\) is defined by \(N_k'=\) the reverse of \(N_k\) if \(N_k\) is a two digit integer; \(N_k\cdot 10\) if \(N_k\) is a one digit integer. We define the element \(N_{k+1}\) of the sequence by \(N_{k+1}=| N_k-N_k'|\), where the sequence is initiated by an arbitrary two digit integer \(N_1\) with unequal digits. Another example is the Smarandache primitive number \(S_p(n)\) (\(p\) a given prime), which is the smallest positive integer such that \((S_p(n))!\) is divisible by \(p^n\). There are many open problems related to these sequences, and the author explains these problems many times with tables, graphics, diagrams, and elementary heuristic arguments. Unfortunately, the author does not seem to be aware of the research on the prime product sequence \(p\#+1\), where \(p\#=\) product of all primes \(\leq p\) (\(p\) given prime). This sequence (sometimes wrongly called ``Smarandache prime product sequence) has been extensively studied by many authors such as Borning, Templer, Buhler and Crandall, Penk, etc. The largest known prime of this type is \(23029\#+1\) [see e.g. \textit{P. Ribenboim}, The new book of prime number records. New York, NY: Springer Verlag (1996; Zbl 0856.11001)]. The last chapter deals with certain questions related to the harmonic series. The reviewer feels that these problems could be of greater importance in their connections to other parts of mathematics, in general, and particularly to number theory.

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