Mean values over certain sets of divisors of an integer
type: Item
instance of: scholarly article
title: Mean values over certain sets of divisors of an integer
zbMATH Open document ID: 0855.11050
author: Jean-Marie De Koninck
author: Jacques Grah
published in: L'Enseignement Mathématique. 2e Série
publication date: 1996-10-20T00:00:00Z
review text: For a given arithmetic function \(f(n)\) the authors consider the functions \[ \overline {f} (n)= {1\over {\tau (n)}} \sum_{d\mid n} f(d), \qquad \widehat {f} (n)= {1\over {2^{\omega (n)}}} \sum_{d \mid n} \mu^2 (d) f(d), \qquad \widetilde {f} (n)= {1\over {2^{\omega (n)}}} \sum _{\substack{ d\mid n\\ (d, n/d) =1}} f(d). \] Here \(\tau (n)\) is the number of positive divisors of \(n\), \(\mu (n)\) is the Möbius function, and \(\omega (n)\) is the number of distinct prime divisiors of \(n\). These functions represent the average of \(f\) over all of its divisors, squarefree divisors and unitary divisors, respectively. The authors study extensively the arithmetic properties of the new functions \(\overline {f}\), \(\widehat {f}\), \(\widetilde {f}\), and prove a number of interesting results. For example they show that, if \(f\) is additive (resp. multiplicative), then each of the functions \(\overline {f}\), \(\widehat {f}\), \(\widetilde {f}\) is also additive (resp. multiplicative). Mean values of the functions \(\overline {f}\), \(\widehat {f}\), \(\widetilde {f}\) are also studied, and it is is shown that, if \(f\) is strongly additive \((f (p^\alpha)= f(p)\) for all primes \(p\)), then \(f\) has a mean value if and only if \(\widetilde {f}\) or \(\widehat {f}\) has a mean value. The ``discrepancy'' function \[ \overline {\Delta} f(n):= {1\over {\tau (n)}} \sum_{d\mid n} (f(d)- \overline {f} (d)) \] (and analogously defined functions \(\widehat {\Delta} f(n)\), \(\widetilde {\Delta} f(n)\)) are introduced and studied. If \(f\) is additive, then each of the discrepancy functions is again additive. Finally some further generalizations and examples are also given.
reviewed by: Aleksandar Ivić
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 11N37
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 11A25
zbMATH DE Number: 915931
zbMATH Keywords: multiplicative functions
zbMATH Keywords: additive functions
zbMATH Keywords: slowly varying functions
zbMATH Keywords: mean values
zbMATH Keywords: arithmetic function
zbMATH Keywords: discrepancy functions
MaRDI profile type: MaRDI publication profile
description: scientific article; zbMATH DE number 915931