SEd Math 314 Number Theory

Chapter 3: Arithmetic Functions and Special Numbers

We treat important people in our lives as special because

of their characteristics. Do you know that even positive
numbers such as 6, 8, 12, 19, 23 including the pair 220
and 284 are considered special because they satisfy
certain conditions? Moreover, even the Ancient Greek
Mathematicians were also interested in associating
geometric shapes like triangle, square, pentagon and
other shapes with numbers. This chapter presents certain
functions that are found to be of special importance in
the study of the divisors of integers including the
properties that make numbers special.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this chapter, you are expected to:

discuss the Tau and Gamma functions;
deduce and apply the rule in finding the number of the positive divisors ( ) of an integer;
deduce and apply the rule in finding sum of the positive divisors ( ) of an integer;
identify special numbers & classify them according to some properties, and
deduce a pattern in determining special numbers.

ARITHMETIC FUNCTIONS

Definition

Any function whose domain of definition is the set of positive integers is said to be a number-theoretic
(or arithmetic) function. Among the arithmetic functions, the easiest to handle and the most natural, are
the functions (read as “tau”) and (read as “sigma”).

The Function Tau ( )

Definition

Given a positive integer , let ( ) (read as “tau of n”) denote the number of positive divisors of n.

Example:

Find the number of positive divisors of the following positive integers, 1, 4, 5, 9, 12, and 13.

1. 1
The positive divisor of 1 is 1 itself, hence ( ) .

2. 4
The positive divisors of 4 are 1, 2 and 4 itself, hence ( ) .

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3. 5
The positive divisors of 5 are 1 and 5 itself, hence ( ) .

4. 9
The positive divisors of 9 are 1, 3, and 9 itself, hence ( ) .

5. 12
The positive divisors of 12 are, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 itself, hence ( ) .

6. 13
The positive divisors of 13 are 1 and 13 itself, hence ( ) .

Learning Activity

Find the number of positive divisors ( ) of the following:

1. 59 _________________________________
2. 64 _________________________________
3. 150 _________________________________
4. 733 _________________________________
5. 1408 _________________________________

What did you observe? Did you observe that if is a prime number, ( ) . Additionally, if is large,
finding the number of positive divisors by enumeration is tedious. Can you find an easier way to
determine the number of positive divisors of any positive integer ?

Theorem 3.1 Number of Positive Divisors of an Integer

If is the prime factorization of , then

( ) ( )( ) ( )

Example:

Reconsider 150 and 733 and find the number of their positive divisors.

1. 150
150 can be written as

Applying Theorem 3.1,

( ) ( )( )( ) ( )( )( )

2. 1402
1402 can be written as

Applying Theorem 3.1,

( ) ( )( ) ( )( )

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Learning Activity

Applying Theorem 3.1, find the number of positive divisors ( ) of the following positive integers:

1. 68 _________________________________
2. 95 _________________________________
3. 175 _________________________________
4. 564 _________________________________
5. 1050 _________________________________

The Function Gamma ( )

Definition

Given a positive integer , let ( ) (read as “sigma of n”) denote the sum of the positive divisors of n.

Example:

Find the sum of the positive divisors of the following positive integers, 1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 18.

1. 2
The positive divisor of 1 is 1 itself, hence ( ) .

2. 4
The positive divisors of 4 are 1, 2 and 4 itself, hence ( ) .

3. 5
The positive divisors of 5 are 1 and 5 itself, hence ( ) .

4. 7
The positive divisors of 7 are 1, and 7 itself, hence ( ) .

5. 10
The positive divisors of 10 are 1, 2, 5, and 10 itself, hence ( ) .

6. 18
The positive divisors of 18 are 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 18 itself, hence ( )
.

Learning Activity

Find the number of positive divisors of the following integers:

1. 59 _________________________________
2. 64 _________________________________
3. 150 _________________________________
4. 733 _________________________________
5. 1408 _________________________________

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Study the examples given above. What did you observe if n is prime? Take note that ( ) if and
only if n is prime. Moreover, if is very large, enumerating the positive divisors and finding its sum is
time consuming. Can you find an easier way?

Theorem 3.2 The Sum of the Positive Divisors of an Integer .

If is the prime factorization of , then

( )

Example:
Find the sum of the positive divisors of 12.

The prime factorization of 12 can be expressed as follows:

Now, applying the theorem, we obtain

( ) ( )

Example:

What is the sum of the divisors of 60?

Take note that 60 can be written as

( ) ( )( )

Learning Activity

Find ( ) of the following integers .

1. 26 _________________________________
2. 34 _________________________________
3. 175 _________________________________
4. 220 _________________________________
5. 447 _________________________________

SPECIAL NUMBERS

Perfect Numbers

Definition. A positive integer is said to be perfect if is equal to the sum of all its positive divisors,
excluding itself.

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Recall that the sum of the positive divisors of an integer is ( ). Therefore, we can say that if is
perfect, then

( )

or equivalently,

( ) .

Example:

Identify which of the following is a perfect number.

1. 6
( )
( )

or equivalently

( )

Therefore, 6 is a perfect number.

2. 12
( )
( )

Therefore, 12 is not a perfect number.

Learning Activity

Determine which of the following are perfect numbers:

1. 1 _________________________________
2. 112 _________________________________
3. 496 _________________________________
4. 1045 _________________________________
5. 8128 _________________________________

Abundant and Deficient Numbers

Definition. A positive integer is said to be a deficient number if ( ) and an abundant number

if ( ) .

Example:

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Determine which of the following integers are abundant and deficient numbers:

1. 8
The positive divisors of 8 are 1, 2, 4, and 8. It follows that ( ) while
( ) . Since ( ) ( ), 8 is a deficient number.

2. 9
The positive divisors of 9 are 1, 3, and 9. It follows that ( ) while
( ) . Since ( ) ( ), 9 is a deficient number.

3. 12
The positive divisors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. It follows that ( )
while ( ) . Since ( ) ( ), 12 is an abundant number.

4. 36
The positive divisors of 36 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 36. It follows that ( )
while ( ) . Since ( ) ( ), 36 is an
abundant number.

Learning Activity

Determine which of the following integers are abundant or deficient numbers:

1. 1 __________________________________
2. 18 __________________________________
3. 22 __________________________________
4. 24 __________________________________
5. 30 __________________________________

Happy and Unhappy Numbers

Definition. A positive integer is happy if the sum of the squares of its digits eventually ends in 1.
However, it is unhappy if the sum of the squares of the digits enters a repeating cycle.

Example:

Let us consider the two positive integers below and determine which is happy and which is unhappy
number.

1. 16

Hence, 16 is an unhappy number.

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2. 23

Hence, 23 is a happy number.

Learning Activity

Determine which of the following numbers are happy or unhappy.

1. 7 __________________________________
2. 19 __________________________________
3. 35 __________________________________
4. 44 __________________________________
5. 50 __________________________________

Amicable or Friendly Numbers

Definition. Two positive integers and are called an amicable pair or friendly numbers if is
equal to the sum of the positive divisors of except itself and, on the other hand, is equal to the sum
of the positive divisors of except itself.

In terms of the function, the amicable numbers say and are defined by the equations

( ) ( )

or equivalently
( ) ( )

Example. Verify whether and are amicable numbers.

The positive divisors of 220 are 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 22, 44, 55, 110 and 220 while the positive
divisors of 284 are 1, 2, 4, 71, 142, and 284. Now, we will show that

( )
( )

and
( )
( )

Hence, 220 and 284 are amicable or friendly numbers.

Learning Activity

Determine which of the following are amicable numbers:

1. and
2. and

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FIGURATE NUMBERS

Figurate numbers are numbers that are represented using arrays of dots and form regular polygons.

Triangular Numbers ( ) are numbers which can be represented using dots in an equilateral triangular
array.

Example:

1 3 6 10 15

Here are some facts concerning triangular numbers.

( )
1. A number is triangular if and only if it is of the form for some (Pythagoras, circa
550 B.C.)
2. The integer is a triangular number if and only of is a perfect square. (Plutarch, circa 100
A.D.)
3. The sum of any two consecutive triangular numbers is a perfect square. (Nicomachus, circa 100
A.D.)
4. If is a triangular number, then so are , , and (Euler, 1775)

Square Numbers ( ) are numbers which can be represented by dots in a square arrangement or array. A
square number is of the form .

Example:

1 4 9 16 25

Pentagonal Numbers ( ) are numbers which can be represented by dots in a pentagonal array. A
( )
pentagonal number is of the form .

Example:

1 5 12 22 35

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Hexagonal Numbers ( ) are numbers which can be represented by dots in a hexagonal array. A
hexagonal number is of the form ( ).

Example:

1 6 15 28 45

Learning Activity
1. Draw the 6th triangular, square, pentagonal, and hexagonal numbers.
2. The figure below shows that 4th triangular number, 10, added to 5th triangular number, 15,
produces the 5th square number, 25.

a. Use a drawing to show that the fifth triangular number added to the sixth triangular
number is the sixth square number.
b. Verify that the 30th triangular number added to the 31st triangular number is the 31st
square number. Hint: Use a numerical approach, do not use drawing.
c. Use the th-term formulas to verify that the sum of the th triangular number and the
( ) triangular number is always the square number ( ) .

Flexible Teaching Learning Modality (FTLM) Adopted

Remote (asynchronous) - module, exercises, problem sets

Assessment Task
Answer the following questions below. Show your complete solution.

A. Find the number of positive divisors ( ) of the following positive integers:

1. 47
2. 86
3. 92
4. 112
5. 460

B. Calculate the sum of the positive divisors ( ) of the following positive integers:
1. 24
2. 55

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3. 127
4. 436
5. 512

C. Classify each of the following as:

Perfect or Not a Perfect Number

1. 22
2. 28
3. 36
4. 54
5. 114

Happy or Unhappy Number

1. 13
2. 17
3. 65
4. 75
5. 104

Abundant or Deficient Number

1. 20
2. 57
3. 75
4. 96
5. 102

Amicable/Friendly Numbers or Not Amicable/Friendly Numbers

1. and
2. and
3. and
4. and
5. and

D. Determine the following figurate numbers:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Reference

Burton, D. M. (2011). Elementary Number Theory, Seventh Edition. McGraw-Hill Education.

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