How can you prove the number-theoretic equation $\sum_{d|n} \phi(d) = n$?

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In summary, the number-theoretic equation $\sum_{d|n} \phi(d) = n$ is known as Euler's totient function or phi function. It calculates the number of integers between 1 and n that are relatively prime to n. This equation is useful in number theory, cryptography, primality testing, and other areas. For example, for the number 12, there are 12 integers between 1 and 12 that are relatively prime to 12. This equation is always true for any positive integer n and is used in the RSA encryption algorithm in modern cryptography.
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Give a proof of the number-theoretic equation $$\sum_{d|n} \phi(d) = n$$ where $\phi(d)$ is the number of positive integers $\le d$ and relatively prime to $d$.-----

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Congratulations to Olinguito and castor28 for their correct solutions.

1. Olinguito's solution.

Let $N=\{1,\ldots,n\}$. For each $d\in N$ such that $d\mid n$, consider the set $N_d=\{r\in N:\gcd(r,n)=d\}$. Now if $s\in N$ and $sd\in N_d$, then $\gcd(sd,n)=d$ and so $\gcd\left(s,\frac nd\right)=1$. Conversely, if $s,sd\in N$ and $\gcd\left(s,\frac nd\right)=1$, then $\gcd(sd,n)=d$ and so $sd\in N_d$. Hence there is a bijection between $N_d$ and the set of all $s\in N$ such that $s\le \frac nd$ and $\gcd\left(s,\frac nd\right)=1$. It follows that $\left|N_d\right|=\phi\left(\frac nd\right)$.

Now if $r\in N_{d_1}$ and $r\in N_{d_2}$, then $d_1=\gcd(r,n)=d_2$. Hence the $N_d$ are pairwise disjoint. Moreover, if $r\in N$ then $r\in N_{\gcd(r,n)}$. Hence $\displaystyle\bigcup_{d\mid n}N_d=N$. It follows that
$$n=\sum_{d\mid n}\left|N_d\right|=\sum_{d\mid n}\phi\left(\frac nd\right)=\sum_{d\mid n}\phi(d)$$(since as $d$ ranges over all the divisors of $n$, so does $\frac nd$).

2. castor28's solution.

In a cyclic group of order $n$, each element generates a cyclic subgroup of order $d$ for some $d\mid n$.

The number of generators of that subgroup (the number of elements of order $d$) is $\phi(d)$. As these elements (for all $d\mid n$) account for all the $n$ elements of the group, we have :
$$
\sum_{d|n} \phi(d) = n
$$
 

FAQ: How can you prove the number-theoretic equation $\sum_{d|n} \phi(d) = n$?

What is the meaning of the number-theoretic equation $\sum_{d|n} \phi(d) = n$?

The number-theoretic equation $\sum_{d|n} \phi(d) = n$ is known as Euler's totient function or phi function. It is a mathematical equation that calculates the number of integers between 1 and n that are relatively prime to n. In other words, it calculates the number of positive integers less than or equal to n that do not share any common factors with n.

How is this equation useful in number theory?

This equation is useful in number theory because it provides a way to calculate the number of relatively prime integers to a given integer n. It has various applications in cryptography, primality testing, and other areas of number theory.

Can you provide an example of this equation in action?

Sure, let's take the number 12. The divisors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12. Using the equation $\sum_{d|12} \phi(d) = 12$, we can calculate the number of relatively prime integers to 12 as follows:

$\phi(1) + \phi(2) + \phi(3) + \phi(4) + \phi(6) + \phi(12) = 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 4 = 12$

As we can see, there are 12 integers between 1 and 12 that are relatively prime to 12.

Is this equation always true for any integer n?

Yes, this equation is always true for any positive integer n. It can be proved using elementary number theory and the fundamental theorem of arithmetic.

How can this equation be used in cryptography?

This equation is used in the RSA encryption algorithm, which is a commonly used public-key cryptosystem. The phi function is used to generate the public and private keys in this algorithm, making it an essential part of modern cryptography.

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