Let be the number of monic irreducible polynomials of polynomial degree over . Factoring into all such polynomials whose degrees divide givesThe Möbius inversion formula therefore gives
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 ii Paper 2 1H Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
The Euler totient function counts integers with . The Möbius function has , is zero when a prime square divides , and equals when is a product of distinct primes. Consequentlybecause for the sum over squarefree divisors is .
The Möbius inversion formula is . Substituting the divisor sum defining and collecting the coefficient of givesThis proof uses only finite sums, so no convergence hypothesis is needed.
Classifying by their greatest common divisor with gives : the class with greatest common divisor contains exactly integers. Applying the Möbius inversion formula yieldsThe Riemann zeta function is for . Absolute convergence justifies multiplication of Dirichlet series. The divisor identity for the Möbius function gives there. For both factors below converge absolutely, and their Dirichlet convolution is the Euler totient function:
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 ii Paper 3 1G Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
An arithmetic function is multiplicative if whenever and are coprime integers. If and , every positive integer divisor of is uniquely with and . Henceso is multiplicative.
The Möbius function is defined by , if the square of a prime number divides , and if is a product of distinct prime numbers. Coprime integers have disjoint sets of prime factors, so this definition immediately gives when .
For , only the square-free divisors contribute, and thereforeFor the sum is . Thus in the language of Dirichlet convolution. Convolving with gives the Möbius inversion formula
If , its divisor sum is the sum-of-divisors function. Conversely, if , Möbius inversion givesusing the standard divisor identity for the Euler totient function. Therefore the two requested answers are
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2020 ii Paper 4 11H a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
An arithmetic function is multiplicative when and whenever and are coprime. If and are coprime, every divisor of has a unique factorization with and . Hence the Dirichlet convolution of multiplicative functions satisfiesand , so it is multiplicative.
Let be the Identity for Dirichlet convolution, with and for . The Möbius function satisfies . Therefore, using commutativity and associativity,This is the Möbius inversion formula.