Exercise 2.11

Show that ϕ ( n ) = n d n μ ( d ) d by first proving that μ ( d ) d is multiplicative and then using Ex. 2.9 and 2.10.

Answers

Proof. Let’s verify that μ is a multiplicative function.

If n m = 1 , then n = p 1 a 1 p l a l , m = q 1 b 1 q r b r , where p 1 , , p l , q 1 , q r are distinct primes. Then the decomposition in prime factors of nm is nm = p 1 a 1 p l a l q 1 b 1 q r b r . If one of the a i or one of the b j is greater than 1, then μ ( nm ) = 0 = μ ( n ) μ ( m ) . Otherwise, n = p 1 p l , m = q 1 q r , nm = p 1 p l q 1 q r , and μ ( nm ) = ( 1 ) l + r = ( 1 ) l ( 1 ) r = μ ( n ) μ ( m ) . So

μ ( nm ) nm = μ ( n ) n μ ( m ) m .

that is, n μ ( n ) n is a multiplicative function.

From Ex.2.10, n d n μ ( d ) d is also a multiplicative function, and so is ψ , where ψ is defined by

ψ ( n ) = n d n μ ( d ) d .

To verify the equality ϕ = ψ , it is sufficient from Ex. 2.9 to verify ϕ ( p k ) = ψ ( p k ) for all prime powers p k , k 1 ( ϕ ( 1 ) = ψ ( 1 ) = 1 ).

ψ ( p k ) = p k d p k μ ( p k ) p k = p k ( μ ( 1 ) 1 + μ ( p ) p )

(The other terms are null.)

So

ψ ( p k ) = p k ( 1 1 p ) = p k p k 1 = ϕ ( p k ) .

Thus ϕ = ψ : for all n 1 ,

ϕ ( n ) = n d n μ ( d ) d .

User profile picture
2022-07-19 00:00
Comments