1999•Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical SocietyRequires access

The average number of divisors of an irreducible quadratic polynomial

James McKee

Open publisher page 14 citations

Abstract

For a non-zero integer n, let d(n) denote the number of positive divisors of n. Let a, b and c be integers with a>0, and set Δ=b2−4ac. If the quadratic polynomial ax2+bx+c is irreducible over the rational numbers Q (that is, if Δ is not the square of an integer), then one hasformula hereas X→∞, for some λ depending on a, b and c (see [7]). In this paper we discuss the way in which λ depends on a, b and c, giving a precise, compact expression in terms of class numbers. This extends previous work for the case a=1, Δ<0 (see [4]).For the case a=1, b=0, a much better description of the error is given in [2], with the following expression for λ:formula hereHere ρ is a multiplicative function, defined below, and (p/q) is the Legendre/Jacobi symbol.

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What this paper is about

For a non-zero integer n, let d(n) denote the number of positive divisors of n. Let a, b and c be integers with a>0, and set Δ=b2−4ac. If the quadratic polynomial ax2+bx+c is irreducible over the rational numbers Q (that is, if Δ is not the square of an integer), then one hasformula hereas X→∞, for some λ depending on a, b and c (see [7]). In this paper we discuss the way in which λ depends on a, b and c, giving a precise, compact expression in terms of class numbers. This extends previous work for the case a=1, Δ<0 (see [4]).For the case a=1, b=0, a much better description of the error is given in [2], with the following expression for λ:formula hereHere ρ is a multiplicative function, defined below, and (p/q) is the Legendre/Jacobi symbol.

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Available abstract

For a non-zero integer n, let d(n) denote the number of positive divisors of n. Let a, b and c be integers with a>0, and set Δ=b2−4ac. If the quadratic polynomial ax2+bx+c is irreducible over the rational numbers Q (that is, if Δ is not the square of an integer), then one hasformula hereas X→∞, for some λ depending on a, b and c (see [7]). In this paper we discuss the way in which λ depends on a, b and c, giving a precise, compact expression in terms of class numbers. This extends previous work for the case a=1, Δ<0 (see [4]).For the case a=1, b=0, a much better description of the error is given in [2], with the following expression for λ:formula hereHere ρ is a multiplicative function, defined below, and (p/q) is the Legendre/Jacobi symbol.

Key concepts: Mathematics, Multiplicative function, Integer (computer science), Combinatorics, Square (algebra), Irreducible polynomial, Legendre symbol, Polynomial

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