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.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2025 iii Paper 150 2 b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
Let and choosewith fixed positive chosen so that the rectangle up to height lies inside the zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function. Move the Perron contour from to . The only singularity crossed is the simple pole at of , whose residue contributes .
The standard bound in this zero-free rectangle givesThe two horizontal sides are , and the truncation error from part a is . Polynomial factors in can be absorbed by slightly reducing the exponential constant. Thus some satisfiesThis is the Prime number theorem with classical zero-free-region error.