a. To show that there exist infinitely many integers n such that σ(n)>3n:
Let n=pk, where p is a prime and k≥1. Then
σ(n)=1+p+p2+⋯+pk=p−1pk+1−1.
Let p=2, n=2k:
σ(2k)=2k+1−1.
For k≥2,
σ(2k)=2k+1−1>3⋅2k⟺2k+1−1>3⋅2k⟺2k+1>3⋅2k+1⟺2⋅2k>3⋅2k+1⟺2k>1.
So for k≥1, 2k>1 and the inequality holds for k≥2.
Alternatively, consider n=p1p2, where p1,p2 are distinct primes:
σ(n)=(1+p1)(1+p2)=1+p1+p2+p1p2.
For large p1,p2, σ(n)≈p1p2, but for small primes, for example n=6:
σ(6)=1+2+3+6=12>3⋅6=18.
But 12<18, so this does not work for n=6.
But for n=28 (which is a perfect number):
σ(28)=1+2+4+7+14+28=56=2⋅28.
So σ(n)>3n for n=2k with k≥2.
In fact, for n=2k with k≥2, σ(n)=2k+1−1>3⋅2k for k≥2.
Therefore, there are infinitely many such n.
b. To prove σ(n)<n(1+log2n):
Let n=∏i=1rpiai be the prime factorization of n.
Then
σ(n)=i=1∏rpi−1piai+1−1<i=1∏rpi−1piai+1.
But σ(n)<n∏i=1rpi−1pi.
Now, ∏i=1rpi−1pi<∏i=1r(1+pi−11)<1+∑i=1rpi−11.
But the number of distinct prime divisors r≤log2n (since n≥2r), so
σ(n)<n(1+log2n).
Therefore, σ(n)<n(1+log2n) for all n.