View Full Version : Possible convergence of prime series
Loren Booda
May24-09, 02:51 AM
Does either
\frac{\prod_{2N=n}^\infty{p_n}}{\prod_{2N-1=n}^\infty{p_n}}
or
\frac{\sum_{2N=n}^\infty{p_n}}{\sum_{2N-1=n}^\infty{p_n}}
converge, diverge or oscillate, where N are the natural numbers, and pn is the nth prime?
matt grime
May24-09, 05:01 AM
Assuming we do all the cancellation possible in the first one without worrying what it means, and that 2N=n really ought to be written n=2N, then it simplifies to
1/p_{2N-1}
which converges to 0 as N tends to infinity.
I don't think N can mean the natural numbers by the way.
CRGreathouse
May24-09, 10:28 AM
My interpretation is
\prod_{n=1}^\infty\frac{p_{2n}}{p_{2n-1}}
which diverges to +infty. But
\prod_{n=1}^\infty p_n^{(-1)^n}
oscillates, so it really depends on how you write it.
Loren Booda
May25-09, 08:51 PM
Anybody else - convergence, divergence or oscillation?
CRGreathouse
May26-09, 02:04 AM
Anybody else - convergence, divergence or oscillation?
Why don't you rewrite it, or explain it in different terms, so we can all be talking about the same thing?
Loren Booda
May26-09, 09:33 PM
CRGreathouse,
1.
How does the ratio between the product of all even-ordered primes pn (n=2N; n=2, 4, 6...) and the product of all odd-ordered primes pn (n=2N-1; n=1, 3, 5...) behave as n approaches infinity?
2.
How does the ratio between the summation of all even-ordered primes pn (n=2N; n=2, 4, 6...) and the summation of all odd-ordered primes pn (n=2N-1; n=1, 3, 5...) behave as n approaches infinity?
CRGreathouse
May27-09, 12:19 AM
How does the ratio between the product of all even-ordered primes pn (n=2N; n=2, 4, 6...) and the product of all odd-ordered primes pn (n=2N-1; n=1, 3, 5...) behave as n approaches infinity?
But "the product of all even-ordered primes" is infinite, as is "the product of all odd-ordered primes". You can't sensibly take the ratio at all.
I gave two ways (post #5) to do the operation: take factors two at a time:
(3/2) * (7/5) * (13/11) * ...
which diverges, and taking them one factor at a time:
(1/2) * 3 * (1/5) * 7 * (1/11) * ...
which may oscillate.
But you may intend neither of these; that's why I asked for clarification.
Loren Booda
May27-09, 12:47 AM
You reminded me of the book Gamma by Julian Havil [p. 22-24] that the apparent behavior of an infinite calculation may contradict itself according to how its terms are grouped - like you say, as is written.
But "the product of all even-ordered primes" is infinite, as is "the product of all odd-ordered primes". You can't sensibly take the ratio at all.
I gave two ways (post #5) to do the operation: take factors two at a time:
(3/2) * (7/5) * (13/11) * ...
which diverges, and taking them one factor at a time:
(1/2) * 3 * (1/5) * 7 * (1/11) * ...
which may oscillate.
But you may intend neither of these; that's why I asked for clarification.
37 is the number we all find more often then not
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