Can we find the value of log(p) using the Chebyshev function?

  • Thread starter eljose
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In summary: I mean if you do it). This is the whole point of the argument. I'm pretty sure though that the sum converges....On my computer it got up to 10^5 in about 10 seconds. I did not check the accuracy of the sum though for this list, but it should be pretty accurate. It's just the partial sum von Mangoldt's formula. I hope you see the point of this. This is how Prime Number Theorem is proved.Sorry, I have no idea what you are going on about.## In summary, the conversation discusses the Chebyshev function and its relation to the von Mangoldt function, as well as the possibility of using this
  • #1
eljose
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let be the Chebyshev function:

[tex] \psi(x)= x- \sum_{\rho} \frac{ x^{\rho}}{\rho}+C-log(1-x^{2}) [/tex] (1)

Where the sum is over the Non trivial zeros of [tex] \zeta(s)[/tex]

then we have that [tex] \psi(n) -\psi(n-1)=\Lambda (n) [/tex] where the Lambda function is only nonzero witha value of log(p) for n=p^{k} with k a positive integer...my question is.. if we use (1) to calculate Chebyshev function..couldn't we get an expression for the log(p)?..thanks.
 
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  • #2
Another question if we have that:

[tex] \psi(x)-x=\Omega (x^{1/2}) [/tex] then setting x=exp(u) so

[tex] \psi(e^u )-e^u =\Omega (e^{u/2}) [/tex] now if we put [tex] \psi(e^u ) =g(u) [/tex] my question is if for g(u) we have:

[tex] g(u)-e^u =\Omega (e^{u/2}) [/tex]
 
  • #3
It's called the von Mangoldt Function (the thing you called the Lambda Function).
 
  • #4
eljose said:
...my question is.. if we use (1) to calculate Chebyshev function..couldn't we get an expression for the log(p)?..thanks.

Not sure what you want here, given a p you can find log(p) with a calculator.

If you are hoping to use the explicit formula to determine if a specific number is prime by using it to find psi(n) and psi(n-1) exactly (or at least accurately enough to determine if lambda(n)>0) then you are out of luck. You are better off with the usual primality testing algorithms.

If you just want to express lambda(n) as a big fat sum over the zeros of the zeta function, then of course this will work.

eljose said:
Another question if we have that:

[tex] \psi(x)-x=\Omega (x^{1/2}) [/tex] then setting x=exp(u) so

[tex] \psi(e^u )-e^u =\Omega (e^{u/2}) [/tex] now if we put [tex] \psi(e^u ) =g(u) [/tex] my question is if for g(u) we have:

[tex] g(u)-e^u =\Omega (e^{u/2}) [/tex]

Sure, but why? This change of variables that you seem to love x->e^u does nothing profound at all.
 
  • #5
But why not?..in fact if you knew:

[tex] \psi(n)-\psi(n-1)=\Lambda (n) [/tex] then you could use a computer to represent n=2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,.... and when you have a "peak" of the function different from 0 you know you're dealing with a prime..

the problem of [tex] g(u)-e^u = \Omega (e^{u/2}) [/tex] is in my opinion to find if the derivative of the function above will satisfy:

[tex] g' (u)-e^u =\Omega (e^{u/2}) [/tex] and what can we say about the quotient [tex] \frac{f(x)}{x} [/tex] if f(x) satisfies [tex] f(x)= \Omega (x) [/tex]
 
  • #6
eljose said:
But why not?

because you've not proven it allows us to do anything more easily than we already can. It is trivial to come up with methods that allow you to find primes and factorize integers, but they are almost always worse than just doing trial division, unless you happen to be Pollard.

..in fact if you knew:

[tex] \psi(n)-\psi(n-1)=\Lambda (n) [/tex] then you could use a computer to represent n=2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,.... and when you have a "peak" of the function different from 0 you know you're dealing with a prime..
and how are you going to find these peaks?
 
  • #7
eljose said:
But why not?..in fact if you knew:

[tex] \psi(n)-\psi(n-1)=\Lambda (n) [/tex] then you could use a computer to represent n=2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,.... and when you have a "peak" of the function different from 0 you know you're dealing with a prime..

As always, do it. Of course you can use the explicit formula to find psi(n) as accurately as you need by taking enough terms in the sum. The problem is the 'enough' required to get 'accurately as you need' will be 'so many this is a terrible way of doing things'.

What you should do is go to odlyzko's website and download a bunch of zeros. Take a look at the explicit formula with the sum truncated to some finite number of terms, 10, 100, 1000, etc, try different values. Plot a graph of psi(x) and what this truncated version of the left hand side gives. See how far out this is close enough to determine psi(x). (there's free software you can use, like pari/gp, so no complaining about not being able to do this).

Failing that there used to be websites that had java animations of this. Go find one at look at it (I've given links before, not going to bother finding them again).

eljose said:
the problem of [tex] g(u)-e^u = \Omega (e^{u/2}) [/tex] is in my opinion to find if the derivative of the function above will satisfy:

[tex] g' (u)-e^u =\Omega (e^{u/2}) [/tex] and what can we say about the quotient [tex] \frac{f(x)}{x} [/tex] if f(x) satisfies [tex] f(x)= \Omega (x) [/tex]

The derivative of g is zero almost everywhere, psi is a step function with jumps at the prime powers, so no, the derivative of g does not satisfy what you've claimed.

Derivatives don't work this way with asymptotics. if f(x)=x*sin(x^2) then clearly f(x)=O(x) but does f'(x)=O(1)?
 
  • #8
Can I be picky? You guys get annoyed by that? That's not quite right up there and I just wish to be precise as best as I can at my meager level of familiarity with the subject.

Chebyshev's function is:

[tex]\psi(x)=\sum_{p^n\leq x} ln(p)[/tex]

Von Mongoldt's explicit expression is:

[tex]\psi_o(x)=x-\sum_{\rho}\frac{x^{\rho}}{\rho}-C-1/2 ln(1-\frac{1}{x^2})[/tex]

The two functions are related however:

[tex]\psi(x)=\left\{
\begin{array}{rcl}
\psi_o(x) & \mbox{for} & x\neq p^n \\
\psi_o(x)+1/2 ln(p) & \mbox{for} & x=p^n
\end{array}\right
[/tex]

Pretty sure that's right. Kindly correct if not.

Thanks for the Ingham reference Shmoe. It's a beautiful problem for me.:smile:
 
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  • #9
Just though I'd mention how to read into Mathematica, the first 100000 imaginary components of the zeta zeros from Odlyzko's site:

http://www.dtc.umn.edu/~odlyzko/zeta_tables/zeros1

First cut and paste the list to a *.txt file. Then use the code below, changing of course the location of where you put the file:

Code:
(* set up path to read in zeta zeros from file *)

$Path = Append[$Path, "c:\Math\pf forum 4"];

(* now read in zeros *)

zlist = ReadList["zetazeros.txt", Number];
Keep in mind the list is only the imaginary components of [itex]\rho[/itex] and not [itex]\overline{\rho}[/itex]. Anyway, I did this and computed the zero sum of von Mangoldt's formula in order to exhibit the discontinuity of the series at powers of primes. Note the plot below. The sum needs to be done symmetrically (both [itex]\rho[/itex] and [itex]\overline{\rho}[/itex] together before going to the next one.
 

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  • #10
saltydog said:
Pretty sure that's right. Kindly correct if not.

Looks fine. Dealing with this [tex]\psi_{0}[/tex] is often skipped by making a statement about [tex]\psi(x)[/tex] that's valid when "x is half an odd integer", or some such dodge.

I'm sure you've also plotted the truncated explicit formula vs. the von mangoldt function itself? It's kind of neat to see just how well it follows the step shape for a given number of zeros before being drowned out by the main term.
 
  • #11
A surprising article relating "Chebyshev function" and Riemann hypothesis"

http://arxiv.org/abs/math.GM/0607095

Author claims that he has found an operator [tex] H=p^2 + V(x) [/tex] so RH is satisfied [tex] \zeta (1/2+iH)=0 [/tex]
 
  • #12
Yes, very surprising... written by the OP eljose, in fact..., who changed his login name to, erm, lokofer. His style of posting is very similar to yours in fact, Karlisbad (syntax, spelling, grammar, use of lots of ... and smilies for no reason). Here for instance:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=134914

could have been written by Jose.
 

1. What is the Chebyshev function?

The Chebyshev function, denoted as ψ(n), is a function in number theory that counts the number of prime factors of a positive integer n. It is named after Russian mathematician Pafnuty Chebyshev.

2. How is the Chebyshev function related to logarithms?

The Chebyshev function is used to estimate the number of primes less than or equal to a given number, which is closely related to the prime counting function π(x). The prime counting function is then used in the definition of the natural logarithm, and thus the Chebyshev function can be used to approximate the value of log(p), where p is a prime number.

3. Can we find the value of log(p) exactly using the Chebyshev function?

No, the Chebyshev function only provides an approximation of the value of log(p). It can be used to get a close estimate, but it will not give the exact value of log(p).

4. Is the Chebyshev function accurate in estimating the value of log(p)?

Yes, the Chebyshev function has been proven to be a reliable and accurate method for approximating the value of log(p). However, the accuracy may decrease for very large prime numbers.

5. Are there other methods for finding the value of log(p)?

Yes, there are other methods for finding the value of log(p), such as using numerical algorithms or using the prime number theorem. However, the Chebyshev function is a simple and efficient method for approximating the value of log(p) without the need for complex calculations.

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