Let , and let be a normalized multiplicative arithmetic function supported on squarefree integers, with . Form the finite measure using Dirac measures. Under the transform convention , its Euler product is . Expanding its logarithmic modulus, and replacing the damped prime weights by up to with Mertens first theorem, gives the displayed absolute bound, uniformly in real . Hence forces . The distance expression still defines a nonnegative pretentious score for prime values bounded by one; its actual metric interpretation uses unit-modulus values.
Let on permitted squarefree integers. The Selberg sieve weights haveThe numerator is the total weight of the distinct integers with and : multiplicativity gives . They are a subset of the terms in .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2004 ia Paper 4 6E Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2012 iii Paper 29 2 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-07
For the unit-modulus prime values in this question, the Granville-Soundararajan distance isThe second identity uses . Thus it is the Euclidean distance between the finite weighted vectors and . 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 it is a pseudometric. For example and have identical values at every prime and zero distance for every , but different values at four. Thus the literal identity-of-indiscernibles assertion needs the prime-restriction quotient.
Since ,For completeness, partial summation and the prime-counting form of the Prime number theorem giveTo verify the constant and the error, replace by in the first expression. Differentiating shows its two contributions combine to plus a constant. The error integral converges absolutely because , and . 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 ; the proof also works with the weaker assumption . 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 is multiplicative and squarefree-supported, but for the displayed measure has infinite positive mass: its prime terms alone are , which diverges by the Prime number theorem.
Put , , and use the Fourier transform convention . Since is supported on squarefree integers, the defining property of a multiplicative arithmetic function gives the absolutely convergent Euler productThe bound on prime values gives for squarefree , so the total variation norm of a measure is bounded by ; thus is a finite measure. Expanding the logarithm of the modulus, with an absolute remainder since , givesAll constants here are uniform in . Moreoverusing the pole of the Riemann zeta function. The nonnegative deficits giveIndeed, the replacement of by for costs at mostby the Mertens first theorem, while discarding the terms costs nothing in this lower bound. Thus the large Fourier coefficient criterion for pretentiousness isIn particular,The comparison function is the Archimedean character with this sign because our Fourier transform uses .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2013 iii Paper 23 5 d Solution 2026-10-07
The standard primitive-character multiplicative large sieve inequality iswhere the star restricts to primitive Dirichlet characters. This is the form used in analytic arguments for Linnik's theorem. The prime-power Gauss identities extend to arbitrary primitive conductors by the Chinese remainder theorem. Thus the primitive Dirichlet character sum is, up to a factor of modulus , the character-weighted sum of the additive values over units . Orthogonality of Dirichlet characters, extending the primitive-character summation to all characters, givesThe additive sieve on the -spaced Farey points proves the displayed bound.
For both prime-interval applications, use the following large sieve upper bound for sifted intervals. Suppose is in an interval of length and avoids one residue modulo every prime not dividing a fixed . ThenTo prove it, choose the forbidden Chinese remainder theorem residue for each squarefree . The Ramanujan sum equals on , since is a unit modulo . Therefore Cauchy-Schwarz inequality givesIndeed the linear combination with coefficients has value , and these coefficients have squared norm . Sum over the allowed squarefree , apply the additive large sieve, and cancel ; the empty set is immediate.
Finally . Squarefree integers have a positive elementary lower density: the nonsquarefree integers up to are covered by multiples of , and . Partial summation turns this density into the harmonic lower bound. Splitting each squarefree into its factors supported on primes dividing and its coprime part givesConsequently , uniformly in and .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 27 1 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
The remainders in the sieve distribution are defined byMultiply the pointwise inequality from part (a) by and sum. Finite rearrangement givesTo identify the main quadratic form, put . For squarefree integers , multiplicativity givesThe second identity is also valid if or is not squarefree: both sides then vanish. Therefore the Selberg sieve diagonalization givesThis proves . Notice that the hypotheses do not force to vanish on non-squarefree integers; those coefficients simply make no contribution to this main quadratic form because .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 27 3 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Set , and restrict attention to the set of squarefree integers all of whose prime factors lie in . Coefficients indexed by non-squarefree integers do not affect , so they may be set to zero. PutIn particular, the normalizing sum runs to , as in the PDF; the converted TeX's is a transcription error. Define . The finite multiples version of Möbius inversion isIt follows by substituting the definition and using . Taking gives . Thus the Selberg sieve diagonalization and the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality giveEquality holds at , which satisfies the constraint. Inverting, and writing , yieldsFor set . The formula has and gives minimum .