Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 iii Paper 28 2 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
For , the absolutely convergent logarithm of the Euler product for the Riemann zeta function isThe elementary identity therefore givesThus the expression inside the logarithm is at least one. The Meromorphic continuation of the Riemann zeta function to the right half-plane has only a simple pole at one, of residue one. It follows, for example, fromwhose integral is holomorphic there.
Suppose and has a zero of order at . As , the real factor is , the middle factor is , and the factor at is bounded. Their product would tend to zero, contradicting its lower bound one. HenceAt there is a pole, not a zero; the statement about the line does not assert a finite value for . This proves the three-four-one product proof of zeta boundary nonvanishing.
To relate the Second Chebyshev function to the logarithmic derivative, differentiate the Euler product in its half-plane of absolute convergence:Since , its first integral of the Chebyshev function isFor any fixed , its Mellin inversion formula isFor justification, the elementary contour kernel is for and zero for . Close left or right and take the residues at zero and minus one; at the continuous value is zero. Absolute convergence on allows termwise integration of the Dirichlet series, and multiplying this kernel by gives .
Here is how the relation yields the asymptotic. Move the contour to the left, using the functional equation of the Riemann zeta function to control the left-hand side. The residue at is , and a Nontrivial zero of the Riemann zeta function contributes , multiplied by its multiplicity. The kernel poles at zero and minus one contribute and ; a trivial zero of the Riemann zeta function contributes . Thus the smoothed explicit formula for the Chebyshev function isFor the contour argument, use heights avoiding the zero ordinates and then let those heights increase. The local zero bound from the Riemann–von Mangoldt formula, together with the Local partial-fraction expansion of the Riemann zeta logarithmic derivative, permits heights with logarithmic-derivative bound in each fixed vertical strip. The horizontal integrals then vanish because the denominator is of size . After that, send the left edge through negative odd integers to minus infinity; the functional equation of the Riemann zeta function bounds the logarithmic derivative there by a logarithm, and makes the left integral vanish for fixed . This explains why this smoothing allows a convergent contour calculation without a quantitative zero-free region.
In fact the Riemann–von Mangoldt formula, stated in the next solution, gives and henceThe Nontrivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function satisfy , using the Euler product, the functional equation of the Riemann zeta function, and the nonvanishing just proved. For each such zero, as , whereas for . The dominated convergence theorem therefore makes the absolutely convergent zero sum, divided by , tend to zero. All the other displayed terms are . We obtain
It remains to unsmooth; differentiating an asymptotic without justification would not suffice. Monotonicity of gives, for fixed ,Divide by and use the integral asymptotic. The lower and upper limits lie between and . Letting proves . Higher prime powers contribute , as in the first solution, so . Finally partial summation givesThe integral is , by and splitting at . Hencewhich is the Prime number theorem.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 150 3 c Solution 2026-10-03
For , the three-four-one zero-free-region argument starts fromApplying this termwise togives
Suppose is a zero with . In the supplied Local partial-fraction expansion of the Riemann zeta logarithmic derivative, every nearby zero contributes a nonnegative real part at when . Keeping the term from givesAt height zero the pole at one givesand the same local expansion at height givesSubstitution yieldsSet , first choosing a sufficiently small absolute . If , the left side is at least . Choosing sufficiently small contradicts the last inequality. Therefore
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 iii Paper 150 3 b Solution Created 2026-09-28 Updated 2026-10-06
For , put . Its absolutely convergent Dirichlet series andgive the three-four-one zero-free-region argumentThe pole of at one gives
Suppose is a zero with and close to one. Apply the supplied Local partial-fraction expansion of the Riemann zeta logarithmic derivative at . Every term has positive real part, so retaining the term belonging to givesAt the same expansion gives merely . The zero is included in the supplied disk whenever and are sufficiently small. Hence
Set and , where is a sufficiently small fixed constant. If were smaller than a sufficiently small constant , division by would givea contradiction. Conjugation handles negative . Reducing to absorb the bounded range proves the classical zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function