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The prime factorization of $N!$ gives $\log N!={\sum }_{p^j\le N}\lfloor N/p^j\rfloor \log p$. The Chebyshev estimate bounds the error on replacing each floor by its argument by $O(N)$. Dividing by $N$ and using the Stirling formula gives ${\sum }_{p^j\le N}(\log p)/p^j=\log N+O(1)$. The contribution of $j\ge 2$ is bounded by the convergent series ${\sum }_{n\ge 2}(\log n)/(n(n-1))$. This proves the Mertens first theorem without the Prime number theorem.

Sieve an interval of length $z$ by the prime two and the primes congruent to three modulo four, with local densities $g(p)=1/p$. Take $D=z^{1/2}$ and $L=\sqrt{D}$. The truncated Euler-product lower bound, the Mertens first theorem and the reciprocal-prime sum in residue class one modulo four give $J\gg \sqrt{\log z}$. The interval counts have bounded remainders, whose sum is $O(D{\log }^{2}D)$ by the summatory bound for three to the prime omega. Hence the number surviving is $O(z/\sqrt{\log z})$, uniformly in the location of the interval.

Let $X\ge 3$, and let $f$ be a normalized multiplicative arithmetic function supported on squarefree integers, with $|f(p)|\le 1$. Form the finite measure $\nu ={\sum }_{n}f(n)n^{-1-1/\log X}{\delta }_{\log n}$ using Dirac measures. Under the transform convention $\hat{\nu }(t)=\int e^{-itu}d\nu (u)$, its Euler product is ${\prod }_p(1+f(p)p^{-1-1/\log X-it})$. Expanding its logarithmic modulus, and replacing the damped prime weights by $1/p$ up to $X$ with Mertens first theorem, gives the displayed absolute bound, uniformly in real $t$. Hence $|\hat{\nu }(t)|\ge \delta \log X$ forces $D(f,n^{it};X{)}^2\le \log (C/\delta )$. The distance expression still defines a nonnegative pretentious score for prime values bounded by one; its actual metric interpretation uses unit-modulus values.

For fixed $\delta >0$, the Mertens first theorem and partial summation imply convergence of ${\sum }_{p}1/(p(\log p{)}^{\delta })$ and, more precisely, the displayed tail asymptotic with error $O((\log x{)}^{-1-\delta })$. Write $A(t)={\sum }_{p\le t}(\log p)/p=\log t+O(1)$ and integrate against $(\log t{)}^{-1-\delta }$. The boundary at infinity vanishes; combining the finite boundary with the integral gives the coefficient $1/\delta$.

Write $\theta (x)={\sum }_{p\le x}\log p$ for the Chebyshev theta function and $\psi (x)={\sum }_{n\le x}\Lambda (n)$ for the Second Chebyshev function, where $\Lambda$ is the Von Mangoldt function. We first establish the Chebyshev estimate. Every prime $n<p\le 2n$ divides the central binomial coefficient $\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{2n}{n}\right)$, soApply this at successive powers of two and use monotonicity to obtain $\theta (x)=O(x)$. Sincethe terms $r\ge 2$ contribute $O(\sqrt{x}\log x)$ and therefore $\psi (x)=O(x)$. This Chebyshev estimate from central binomial coefficients is all the information about the distribution of primes needed here.

The Von Mangoldt divisor identity $\log n={\sum }_{d\mid n}\Lambda (d)$ gives the factorial proof of Mertens first theorem. With $N=\lfloor x\rfloor$, interchange the finite sums to obtainComparison of ${\sum }_{n\le N}\log n$ with ${\int }_1^N\log tdt$ gives $\log N!=N\log N-N+O(\log N)$. Dividing the preceding identity by $x$, using $N=x+O(1)$ and the Chebyshev estimate, givesThe contribution of higher prime powers is bounded independently of $x$, becauseThus the Mertens first theorem is

For the square-root logarithmic sum over primes, apply partial summation to $A(t)$ with weight $(\log t{)}^{-1/2}$. The lower endpoint is understood as $A(2^{-})=0$, soThe main terms are $\sqrt{\log x}$ and $\sqrt{\log x}-\sqrt{\log 2}$. The bounded error in $A(t)$ produces a bounded integral, since ${\int }_2^{\infty }dt/(t(\log t{)}^{3/2})<\infty$. ThereforeNeither argument uses the Prime number theorem.

Let $T(N)$ count pairs $n,n+2$ both prime with $n+2\le N$. The Selberg sieve replaces primality by the necessary condition that the polynomial $F(n)=n(n+2)$ have no small prime divisor. Its strength is a nonnegative quadratic majorant with optimizable divisor weights; its limitation is that a sifted integer need not be prime.

For a prime $p$, let $\nu (p)$ count the forbidden residues of $n$ modulo $p$. We have $\nu (2)=1$, since the two roots coincide modulo two, and $\nu (p)=2$ for every odd prime, where the roots are zero and $-2$. The Chinese remainder theorem makes $\nu (d)$ multiplicative on squarefree integers. With $g(d)=\nu (d)/d$,These local densities constitute the sieve distribution for the twin-prime problem. Since ${\sum }_{p\le z}g(p)=2\log \log z+O(1)$, it is a dimension-two sieve, which is why the expected upper bound has two logarithms in the denominator.

Let $P(R)={\prod }_{p\le R}p$ and choose real Selberg sieve weights ${\lambda }_d$ supported on squarefree $d\le R$, with ${\lambda }_1=1$. If $\gcd (F(n),P(R))=1$, the only supported divisor of $F(n)$ is one. HenceExpanding and using the distribution of the polynomial roots givesHere $[d,e]$ denotes the least common multiple. The divisor-square support reaches $R^2$, although each individual weight is supported only to $R$; keeping these two levels distinct is essential for estimating the remainder.

The Selberg sieve diagonalization solves the main-term minimization exactly. On squarefree integers putMultiplicativity givesAlso, Möbius inversion gives ${\sum }_{r\le R}\mu (r)Y_r={\lambda }_1=1$. Therefore the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality proveswith equality at $Y_r=\mu (r)w(r)/G(R)$. Inverting the divisor sums gives the optimizing weightsIn particular ${\lambda }_1=1$ and $Q(\lambda )=1/G(R)$.

These weights have $|{\lambda }_d|\le 1$, which supplies a simple rigorous remainder estimate. Indeed, multiply the inner sum by ${\prod }_{p\mid d}(1-g(p){)}^{-1}={\sum }_{e\mid d}w(e)$. The terms are $w(em)$ for distinct squarefree integers $em\le R$ with $e\mid d$ and $(m,d)=1$, hence form a subset of the sum defining $G(R)$. Since $\nu ([d,e])\le \nu (d)\nu (e)$ and $\nu (d)\le \tau (d)$,Thus

For this sieve $w(2)=1$ and $w(p)=2/(p-2)$ for odd primes. Here is a direct proof that $G(R)\asymp {\log }^{2}R$, sufficient for the upper bound. PutThe Mertens theorem for reciprocal primes implies $W(z)\asymp {\log }^{2}z$, by taking logarithms and using the convergence of ${\sum }_{p}g(p{)}^2$. Give each divisor $d\mid P(z)$ probability $w(d)/W(z)$. Its expected logarithm isby the Mertens first theorem. With $z=R^{1/8}$ this is at most $\frac{1}{3}\log R$ for large $R$. The Markov inequality shows that at least two thirds of the total product weight has $d\le R$. These terms occur in $G(R)$, so $G(R)\gg W(R^{1/8})\gg {\log }^{2}R$. Conversely $G(R)\le W(R)\ll {\log }^{2}R$, proving the claim without treating an untruncated Euler product as a truncated divisor sum.

Choose, for example, $R=N^{1/4}$. Any twin-prime pair with smaller member greater than $R$ survives this sieve; pairs with smaller member at most $R$ contribute at most $O(R)$. ConsequentlyThe chosen level is deliberately enough to prove the correct logarithmic order; sharper level and remainder analyses improve the numerical upper-bound constant.

The local correction factor also explains the conjectured main-term constant. Relative to two independent primality conditions, the singular series isThe twin-prime constant $C_2$ is positive and convergent because its logarithm has an absolutely convergent tail. The factor two at $p=2$ records that only one parity is allowed, while each odd-prime factor records the two distinct forbidden residues. The Hardy–Littlewood twin-prime asymptotic conjecture predictsThis is a conjecture, not a consequence of the upper-bound calculation.

The parity problem in sieve theory is the obstruction to reversing the argument. The nonnegative square majorizes all survivors, including composites with sufficiently large prime factors; small-divisor information does not isolate the desired prime-factor parity or force both factors to be prime. Therefore the Selberg sieve establishes the correct upper-bound scale and the arithmetic local factors, but by itself does not prove a positive lower bound for twin primes, their infinitude, or the conjectured asymptotic.

Write $\vartheta (x)={\sum }_{p\le x}\log p$ and $\psi (x)={\sum }_{n\le x}\Lambda (n)$ for the two Chebyshev functions, and $\pi (x)$ for the prime-counting function. If $m<p\le 2m$, the prime $p$ divides the central binomial coefficient $\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{2m}{m}\right)$. ConsequentlySum this inequality over dyadic integers $m=1,2,4,\dots ,2^{k-1}$. It gives $\vartheta (2^k)\le 2^{k+1}\log 2$. Monotonicity, with $2^{k-1}<x\le 2^k$, gives $\vartheta (x)=O(x)$ for real $x\ge 2$. This is the Chebyshev estimate from central binomial coefficients; no information about the distribution of primes beyond unique factorization has been used.

Split the primes at $\sqrt{x}$. For $p>\sqrt{x}$, $\log p>\frac{1}{2}\log x$, soSince $\sqrt{x}=O(x/\log x)$,We also need $\psi (x)=O(x)$. The contributions of higher prime powers satisfybecause only $k\le \log x/\log 2$ contribute, and $\vartheta (x^{1/k})\ll \sqrt{x}$ for $k\ge 2$.

The Von Mangoldt divisor identity is $\log n={\sum }_{d\mid n}\Lambda (d)$, which follows by factoring $n$ into prime powers. Summing it for $n\le M$, with $M$ a positive integer, givesThe bound already proved makes the last error $O(M)$. Integral comparison for ${\sum }_{n\le M}\log n$, or the Stirling formula, gives $\log (M!)=M\log M-M+O(\log M)$. ThereforeThe contribution from higher prime powers is uniformly bounded:Subtract it, and replace $M$ by $\lfloor x\rfloor$, to obtain the Mertens first theorem

Now fix $\delta >0$. Apply partial summation to $A(t)$ and $f(t)=(\log t{)}^{-1-\delta }$. With the lower endpoint interpreted as $2^{-}$, so that the prime $2$ is included, this givesThe boundary term tends to zero, and the integral converges, since $A(t)\ll \log t$ and ${\int }_2^{\infty }dt/(t(\log t{)}^{1+\delta })<\infty$. Thus the series converges for every positive $\delta$. Keeping the main term of $A(t)$ also gives the useful logarithmically weighted reciprocal-prime tailIndeed, subtract the finite partial sum from the limiting integral: the boundary contributes $-(\log x{)}^{-\delta }$ and the main integral contributes $(1+\delta )(\log x{)}^{-\delta }/\delta$.

The Selberg upper-bound sieve replaces a difficult coprimality indicator by a nonnegative square whose coefficients can be optimized. Let $P(z)={\prod }_{p\le z}p$, and suppose a finite sequence has divisibility countswhere $g$ is multiplicative on squarefree integers and $0<g(p)<1$. Choose real Selberg sieve weights ${\lambda }_1=1$ supported on $d\mid P(z)$ with $d\le R$. If an entry has no prime factor in $P(z)$, its only weighted divisor is $1$, so its indicator is bounded above by the square of the divisor sum. Summing giveswhere $Q(\lambda )={\sum }_{d,e}{\lambda }_d{\lambda }_{e}g([d,e])$. This is an upper bound regardless of the signs of the weights.

Here is the optimization. On the permitted squarefree integers putThe identitycan be checked one prime at a time: a prime in both $d$ and $e$ gives the factor $1+h(p)=1/g(p)$. ThusFinite Möbius inversion gives ${\lambda }_{d}g(d)={\sum }_{d\mid r}\mu (r/d)Y_r$, and in particular the condition ${\lambda }_1=1$ becomes ${\sum }_r\mu (r)Y_r=1$. The Cauchy-Schwarz inequality now yieldsEquality is attained by $Y_r=\mu (r)k(r)/J$. Inverting again gives the explicit optimizing weightsThey satisfy $|{\lambda }_d|\le 1$. To see this, multiply out ${\prod }_{p\mid d}(1-g(p){)}^{-1}={\sum }_{e\mid d}k(e)$. The numerator becomes the sum of $k(ev)$ over distinct permitted integers $ev\le R$ with $e\mid d$ and $(v,d)=1$, a subset of the terms in $J$. We therefore have a main term $X/J$ and a controllable remainder. This proves the basic Selberg sieve diagonalization and the useful bound on the weights, rather than merely asserting an optimized density.

Apply it to the polynomial $F(n)=n(n+2)$ for $1\le n\le N$. If $\omega (d)$ is the number of roots of $F$ modulo squarefree $d$, the Chinese remainder theorem givesUse $g(d)=\omega (d)/d$, $R=z=N^{1/8}$, and sieve the indices for which $F(n)$ has no prime factor at most $z$. The local weights areWe claim $J(z,z)\gg (\log z{)}^2$. The following truncated-product argument supplies the necessary lower bound. Put $w=z^{1/8}$, and consider all squarefree integers on the primes at most $w$, with total weightGive such an integer $d$ probability $k(d)/W$. Prime inclusion is independent with probability $g(p)$, soby the Mertens first theorem, absorbing the prime $2$ separately. For sufficiently large $z$, this is at most $\frac{1}{2}\log z$. The Markov inequality shows that at least half of $W$ lies on $d\le z$, all of which are terms in $J(z,z)$.

Moreover, partial summation applied to the Mertens first theorem givesIndeed it is $A(w)/\log w+{\int }_2^{w}A(t)/(t(\log t{)}^2)dt$, and the contribution of $A(t)-\log t=O(1)$ has a finite limiting constant with tail $O(1/\log w)$. Expanding the logarithm of $W$ now givesThe error is bounded since ${\sum }_p{p}^{-2}<\infty$. Consequently $W\asymp (\log w{)}^2\asymp (\log z{)}^2$, proving the claim. The exponent two reflects the two forbidden classes at almost every prime.

For the remainder use $|{\lambda }_d|\le 1$ and the simple bound $\omega ([d,e])\le [d,e]\le de$. HenceThe number of surviving indices is thereforeEvery pair of primes $p,p+2$ with $p>z$ survives, since both its prime factors exceed $z$. The exceptional pairs with $p\le z$ number at most $z$. With $z=N^{1/8}$ we obtainThis is the twin-prime upper bound from a quadratic sieve. The method constructs a majorant and bounds the sifted set; it does not give a positive lower bound for twin primes.

Let $A(x)$ count primes $p\le x$ for which $p+2$ is also prime. We prove $A(x)\ll x/{\log }^{2}x$ using a quadratic Selberg sieve, then apply Abel summation.

For $F(n)=n(n+2)$, each odd prime has exactly two roots modulo that prime. The Chinese remainder theorem gives the polynomial root density in a sievefor odd squarefree integers $d$. Put $R=x^{1/8}$ and choose the optimizing real Selberg sieve weights ${\lambda }_d$, supported on these $d\le R$, with ${\lambda }_1=1$. If $p,p+2$ are prime and $p>R$, their weight $({\sum }_{d\mid F(p)}{\lambda }_d{)}^2$ is one. It is nonnegative for every other integer. Expanding the square therefore givesThe Selberg sieve diagonalization makes the main quadratic form $1/J(R)$, whereThe optimal Selberg weights have modulus at most one. Since ${\rho }_F([d,e])\le [d,e]\le R^2$, the remainder is at most $O(R^4)$.

For completeness, the lower bound on $J$ is where the second logarithm enters. Restrict to primes $3\le p\le y=R^{1/8}$ and put $k(p)=2/(p-2)$. The full product $W={\prod }_{3\le p\le y}(1+k(p))$ is $\asymp {\log }^{2}y$, since its logarithm is $2{\sum }_{3\le p\le y}1/p+O(1)$ and the Mertens second theorem applies. Give the associated squarefree divisor $d$ probability $k(d)/W$. Prime inclusion probabilities are $2/p$, so the Mertens first theorem givesfor large $R$. The Markov inequality shows that at least half the weight has $d\le R$. This proves the truncated Euler-product lower bound $J(R)\gg W\gg {\log }^{2}R$. Consequently the twin-prime upper bound from a quadratic sieve isFinally, Abel summation givesThe tail is dominated by ${\int }_3^{\infty }dt/(t{\log }^{2}t)<\infty$. Thus reciprocal-sum convergence from a counting bound proves convergence of the first reciprocal sum. The second is smaller termwise. We have proved Brun's theorem:Counting each twin prime just once changes at most a finite repetition and gives the same conclusion.

For the unit-modulus prime values in this question, the Granville-Soundararajan distance isThe second identity uses $|f(p)|=|g(p)|=1$. Thus it is the Euclidean distance between the finite weighted vectors $(f(p)/\sqrt{2p}{)}_{p\le X}$ and $(g(p)/\sqrt{2p}{)}_{p\le X}$. Nonnegativity, symmetry and the triangle inequality follow from that norm representation, and it vanishes exactly when the two prime-value vectors agree. This proves the prime-restriction metric for pretentious distance.

On whole arithmetic functions at fixed $X$ it is a pseudometric. For example $f=1$ and $g={\mu }^2$ have identical values at every prime and zero distance for every $X$, but different values at four. Thus the literal identity-of-indiscernibles assertion needs the prime-restriction quotient.

Since $\mu (p)=-1$,For completeness, partial summation and the prime-counting form of the Prime number theorem giveTo verify the constant and the error, replace $\pi$ by $\mathrm{Li}+E$ in the first expression. Differentiating $\mathrm{Li}(u)/u$ shows its two contributions combine to $\log \log X$ plus a constant. The error integral converges absolutely because $|E(u)|/u^2\ll e^{-c\sqrt{\log u}}/u$, and $E(X)/X\to 0$. This proves the Mertens second theorem in the form needed here. In particular the pretentious distance between one and the Möbius function satisfies

For the last request, retain the earlier prime normalization $|f(p)|=1$; the proof also works with the weaker assumption $|f(p)|\le 1$. Without a bound on prime values, the original definition and the absolute convergence of the displayed measure need not apply to an unrestricted multiplicative arithmetic function. For example $f(n)=\mu (n{)}^{2}n$ is multiplicative and squarefree-supported, but for $X>e$ the displayed measure has infinite positive mass: its prime terms alone are ${\sum }_p{p}^{-1/\log X}$, which diverges by the Prime number theorem.

Put $L=\log X$, $\sigma =1+1/L$, and use the Fourier transform convention $\hat{\nu }(t)=\int e^{-itu}d\nu (u)$. Since $f$ is supported on squarefree integers, the defining property of a multiplicative arithmetic function gives the absolutely convergent Euler productThe bound on prime values gives $|f(n)|\le 1$ for squarefree $n$, so the total variation norm of a measure is bounded by $\zeta (\sigma )$; thus $\nu$ is a finite measure. Expanding the logarithm of the modulus, with an absolute $O(1)$ remainder since ${\sum }_p{p}^{-2\sigma }\ll 1$, givesAll constants here are uniform in $t$. Moreoverusing the pole of the Riemann zeta function. The nonnegative deficits $1-\mathrm{Re}(f(p)p^{-it})$ giveIndeed, the replacement of $p^{-\sigma }$ by $1/p$ for $p\le X$ costs at mostby the Mertens first theorem, while discarding the $p>X$ terms costs nothing in this lower bound. Thus the large Fourier coefficient criterion for pretentiousness isIn particular,The comparison function is the Archimedean character $n^{it}$ with this sign because our Fourier transform uses $e^{-itu}$.

Take sieve level $D=x^{1/3}$ and coefficient cutoff $L=\sqrt{D}=x^{1/6}$. Let $\mathcal{P}$ be the finite set of odd primes at most $L$. Give $n=p+2$ one unit of weight for each prime $p\le x$. For an odd squarefree integer $d$ on these primes, the sieve distribution isThe residue $-2$ is coprime to every such $d$, and $g(p)=1/(p-1)\in (0,1)$ for all permitted primes. Values of $g$ outside the permitted set can be chosen arbitrarily in $(0,1)$ at primes and extended multiplicatively on squarefree integers.

For the Selberg sieve normalizing sum, $k(p)=g(p)/(1-g(p))=1/(p-2)$ andHere is a direct proof of this lower bound. Restrict the Euler product to $3\le p\le y=L^{1/4}$. The Mertens first theorem gives ${\sum }_{3\le p\le y}\log p/(p-1)=\log y+O(1)$, which is at most $\frac{1}{2}\log L$ for large $L$. The Mertens second theorem givesThe truncated Euler-product lower bound, with $\theta =1/2$, now gives $J\ge W/2\gg \log L$.

Use the minimizing Selberg sieve weights from Question 3. Their absolute values are at most one, so the Selberg least-common-multiple weights satisfy $|{\lambda }_d|\le 3^{\omega (d)}$. Parts (a) and (b) control the remainder:The first factor uses the Bombieri–Vinogradov theorem; $D=x^{1/3}$ is below $x^{1/2}/{\log }^{B}x$ for all sufficiently large $x$. The second uses the permitted ${\sum }_{q\le D}{9}^{\omega (q)}/\varphi (q)\ll {\log }^{9}D$. The PDF has the exponent nine, which the TeX transcribes incorrectly. Choose $A=14$ to obtain $O(x/{\log }^{3}x)$.

Every twin prime pair with $p+2>L$ survives the finite sieve, while the pairs with $p+2\le L$ number at most $L$. The Selberg upper-bound sieve thus givesTherefore the twin-prime count is $O(x/{\log }^{2}x)$. The finite cutoff on the forbidden primes is essential: sieving by all odd primes would also discard the large prime values $p+2$ that we are trying to count.

In the level-$D$ convention used here, the Selberg upper-bound sieve states that a nonnegative sequence with sieve distribution $A_d=Xg(d)+r(d)$ satisfiesIt follows by minimizing the quadratic form with the Selberg sieve weights and using the Selberg least-common-multiple weights bound $|{\lambda }_d|\le 3^{\omega (d)}$.

Sieve the interval $x<n\le x+z$ by two and by the primes congruent to three modulo four, up to $L=\sqrt{D}$. The interval divisor counts giveThus $X=z$, $g(p)=1/p$, and $r(d)=O(1)$ uniformly in the location of the interval. Take $D=z^{1/2}$ and $L=z^{1/4}$.

To bound $J$, let $y=L^{1/4}$ and form the Euler product over the forbidden primes at most $y$. The given reciprocal-prime sum in residue class one modulo four, subtracted from the Mertens second theorem, yieldsMoreover, the Mertens first theorem bounds the logarithmic mean by ${\sum }_{p\le y}(\log p)/p=\log y+O(1)\le \frac{1}{2}\log L$ for large $L$. The truncated Euler-product lower bound gives $J\ge W/2\gg \sqrt{\log z}$.

The full-range summatory bound for three to the prime omega bounds the error by $O(D{\log }^{2}D)=O(\sqrt{z}{\log }^{2}z)$, which is $O(z/\sqrt{\log z})$. Every integer whose prime factors are all congruent to one modulo four survives this finite sieve. Therefore the half-dimensional interval sieve givesThe constants are independent of $x$. Enlarging them covers the bounded range of $z$ before the asymptotic product estimates apply, so the result holds throughout $1000\le z\le x$.

For fixed $\lambda >1$, integrate $(\log t{)}^{\lambda -1}$ against $A(t)={\sum }_{p\le t}(\log p)/p$. The Mertens first theorem gives $A(t)=\log t+O(1)$. Partial summation makes the main integral $(\log x{)}^{\lambda }/\lambda$; the bounded error in $A$ contributes at most a constant times $(\log x{)}^{\lambda -1}$. The restriction $\lambda >1$ ensures that integrating the derivative $(\lambda -1)(\log t{)}^{\lambda -2}/t$ has this bound.

Put $A(t)={\sum }_{p\le t}(\log p)/p$. The Mertens first theorem gives $A(t)=\log t+O(1)$. Partial summation yieldsThe main terms sum to $2\sqrt{\log x}$ up to a constant. The error integral is bounded because ${\int }_2^{\infty }dt/(t(\log t{)}^{3/2})$ converges. Thus a prime sum with a fractional logarithmic weight follows from an elementary bounded-error estimate, without the Prime number theorem.