Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2026 / iii / Paper 150 / 2 / c / Solution

Write $M(x)={\sum }_{n\le x}\mu (n)$ for the Mertens function. Suppose, to the contrary, that for some $\epsilon >0$ the quotient $|M(x)|/x^{1/2-\epsilon }$ were bounded. Partial summation would then makeconverge and define a holomorphic function throughout $\Re s>1/2-\epsilon$. In $\Re s>1$ the Euler product identifies this function with $1/\zeta (s)$, so analytic continuation would make $1/\zeta (s)$ holomorphic in that larger half-plane.

By assumption, $\zeta$ has a nontrivial zero. The Functional equation of the Riemann zeta function reflects one of that zero and its partner into $\Re s\ge 1/2$, where $1/\zeta$ must have a pole, a contradiction. Thus $|M(x)|/x^{1/2-\epsilon }$ is unbounded, which gives an $x\ge 1$ exceeding any prescribed constant $C$.

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.