Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2012 iii Paper 29 1 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-07
Let be the Möbius function. Its Möbius divisor-sum identity isIndeed, for the sum is the expansion of ; nonsquarefree divisors contribute zero. Thus, for arithmetic functions ,To prove Möbius inversion, substitute the first formula into the second and collect the coefficient of . It is , which is one for and zero otherwise. Conversely the same divisor interchange recovers from the displayed formula for . In Dirichlet convolution notation this is simply , where is supported at one.
The Prime number theorem with classical zero-free-region error states that some absolute satisfiesHere is the Von Mangoldt function. An equivalent prime-counting form, after decreasing if needed, is . The contributions of proper prime powers are and can be absorbed into this error. We use to keep it distinct from the Fourier transform appearing in Question 5.
Here is a direct deduction of the requested Mertens bound from a log-integrable Chebyshev error from the stated Prime number theorem. First, the divisor identity givesSecond, the exact Dirichlet convolution identityfollows from : multiplication of a Dirichlet convolution by differentiates its two factors, so applying it to and convolving again with gives this formula. Summing it yieldsThe last harmonic sum is . To see this without an endpoint approximation, split into dyadic ranges . In each range , and its exponential factor is at most . Their sum over converges. The finitely many terms with obey the same estimate after adjusting the constant in the prime-number-theorem error. ThereforeFor the Mertens function ,The second sum has absolute value at most , by an integral comparison or the Stirling formula. ConsequentlyThe absolute value in this conclusion is present in the original PDF.