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Number theory Difficulty 8.2 Shortlist Prove it China

For each positive integer NN, let τ(N)\tau(N) be the number of positive factors of NN; ω(N)\omega(N) be the number of distinct prime factors of NN; Ω(N)\Omega(N) be the number of prime factors (counts multiplicities) of NN. Prove: for each positive integer nn,
m=1n5ω(m)k=1nnkτ(k)2m=1n5Ω(m). \sum_{m=1}^{n} 5^{\omega(m)} \le \sum_{k=1}^{n} \lfloor \frac{n}{k} \rfloor \tau(k)^2 \le \sum_{m=1}^{n} 5^{\Omega(m)}.

Here, x\lfloor x \rfloor is the largest integer not exceeding xx.

Solution

First, note that nk\lfloor \frac{n}{k} \rfloor represents the number of multiples of kk among 1,2,,n1, 2, \dots, n. Hence,
k=1nnkτ(k)2=k=1n1mn, kmτ(k)2=m=1nkmτ(k)2. \sum_{k=1}^{n} \lfloor \frac{n}{k} \rfloor \tau(k)^2 = \sum_{k=1}^{n} \sum_{1 \le m \le n,\ k|m} \tau(k)^2 = \sum_{m=1}^{n} \sum_{k|m} \tau(k)^2.
To prove the problem statement, it suffices to justify, for m=1,,nm = 1, \dots, n,
5ω(m)kmτ(k)25Ω(m). 5^{\omega(m)} \le \sum_{k|m} \tau(k)^2 \le 5^{\Omega(m)}.
When m=1m=1, it is obvious. When m>1m > 1, let m=p1α1p2α2prαrm = p_1^{\alpha_1} p_2^{\alpha_2} \cdots p_r^{\alpha_r} be the prime factorization (p1,p2,,prp_1, p_2, \dots, p_r are distinct prime numbers and α1,α2,,αr\alpha_1, \alpha_2, \dots, \alpha_r are positive integers). For k=p1β1p2β2prβrk = p_1^{\beta_1} p_2^{\beta_2} \cdots p_r^{\beta_r}, τ(k)=(β1+1)(β2+1)(βr+1)\tau(k) = (\beta_1 + 1)(\beta_2 + 1) \cdots (\beta_r + 1). Thus,
kmτ(k)2=0β1α10βrαr(β1+1)2(β2+1)2(βr+1)2=i=1r(12+22++(αi+1)2). \begin{aligned} \sum_{k|m} \tau(k)^2 &= \sum_{\substack{0 \le \beta_1 \le \alpha_1 \\ 0 \le \beta_r\cdots \le \alpha_r}} (\beta_1 + 1)^2 (\beta_2 + 1)^2 \cdots (\beta_r + 1)^2 \\ &= \prod_{i=1}^{r} (1^2 + 2^2 + \cdots + (\alpha_i + 1)^2). \end{aligned}
Now it suffices to show for each 1ir1 \le i \le r,
512+22++(αi+1)25αi. 5 \le 1^2 + 2^2 + \cdots + (\alpha_i + 1)^2 \le 5^{\alpha_i}.
For jN+j \in \mathbb{N}_+, define T(j)=12+22++(j+1)2=16(j+1)(j+2)(2j+3)T(j) = 1^2+2^2+\cdots+(j+1)^2 = \frac{1}{6}(j+1)(j+2)(2j+3).
Then
T(j+1)T(j)=j+2j+1j+3j+22j+52j+3[1,213253]=[1,5]. \frac{T(j+1)}{T(j)} = \frac{j+2}{j+1} \cdot \frac{j+3}{j+2} \cdot \frac{2j+5}{2j+3} \in [1, \frac{2}{1} \cdot \frac{3}{2} \cdot \frac{5}{3}] = [1, 5].
Since T(1)=5T(1) = 5, it is straightforward to check T(j)[5,5j]T(j) \in [5, 5^j] (jN+\forall j \in \mathbb{N}_+) by induction. This finishes the proof. \Box

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