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Granville number

Granville number is a mathematics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Granville number rather than just read about it. In short: In mathematics, specifically number theory, Granville numbers, also known as S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -perfect numbers, are an extension of the perfect numbers. The Granville set In 1996, Andrew Granville proposed the following construction of a set S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} : Let 1 ∈ S {\displaystyle 1\in {\mathcal {S}}} , and for any integer n {\displaystyle n} larger than 1, let n ∈ S {\displaystyl…

Key takeaways

  • Granville number belongs to mathematics; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Granville number to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Granville number from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In mathematics, specifically number theory, Granville numbers, also known as S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -perfect numbers, are an extension of the perfect numbers.

The Granville set In 1996, Andrew Granville proposed the following construction of a set S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} :

Let 1 ∈ S {\displaystyle 1\in {\mathcal {S}}} , and for any integer n {\displaystyle n} larger than 1, let n ∈ S {\displaystyle n\in {\mathcal {S}}} if

∑ d ∣ n , d < n , d ∈ S d ≤ n . {\displaystyle \sum _{d\mid n,\;d<n,\;d\in {\mathcal {S}}}d\leq n.}

A Granville number is an element of S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} for which equality holds, that is, n {\displaystyle n} is a Granville number if it is equal to the sum of its proper divisors that are also in S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} . Granville numbers are also called S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -perfect numbers.

General properties The elements of S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} can be k-deficient, k-perfect, or k-abundant. In particular, 2-perfect numbers are a proper subset of S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} .

S-deficient numbers Numbers that fulfill the strict form of the inequality in the above definition are known as S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -deficient numbers. That is, the S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -deficient numbers are the natural numbers for which the sum of their divisors in S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} is strictly less than themselves:

∑ d ∣ n , d < n , d ∈ S d < n {\displaystyle \sum _{d\mid {n},\;d<n,\;d\in {\mathcal {S}}}d<{n}}

S-perfect numbers Numbers that fulfill equality in the above definition are known as S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -perfect numbers. That is, the S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -perfect numbers are the natural numbers that are equal the sum of their divisors in S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} . The first few S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -perfect numbers are:

6, 24, 28, 96, 126, 224, 384, 496, 1536, 1792, 6144, 8128, 14336, ... (sequence A118372 in the OEIS) Every perfect number is also S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -perfect. However, there are numbers such as 24 which are S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -perfect but not perfect. The only known S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -perfect number with three distinct prime factors is 126 = 2 · 32 · 7.

S-abundant numbers Numbers that violate the inequality in the above definition are known as S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -abundant numbers. That is, the S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -abundant numbers are the natural numbers for which the sum of their divisors in S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} is strictly greater than themselves:

∑ d ∣ n , d < n , d ∈ S d > n {\displaystyle \sum _{d\mid {n},\;d<n,\;d\in {\mathcal {S}}}d>{n}}

They belong to the complement of S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} . The first few S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -abundant numbers are:

12, 18, 20, 30, 42, 48, 56, 66, 70, 72, 78, 80, 84, 88, 90, 102, 104, ... (sequence A181487 in the OEIS)

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Granville number

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Granville number claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In mathematics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Granville number before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Granville number ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Granville number

In research
Granville number appears in mathematics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Granville number in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Granville number is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Number theory, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Granville number outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Granville number in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Granville number means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Granville number out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Granville number in simple terms?

In mathematics, specifically number theory, Granville numbers, also known as S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} -perfect numbers, are an extension of the perfect numbers. The Granville set In 1996, Andrew Granville proposed the following construction of a set S {\displaystyle {\mathcal {S}}} : Let 1…

Why does Granville number matter?

Because it connects several mathematics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Granville number?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Granville number.

Tags

  • Number theory

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