English

A Sufficient Condition for Disproving Descartes's Conjecture on Odd Perfect Numbers

Number Theory 2022-02-10 v5

Abstract

Let σ(x)\sigma(x) be the sum of the divisors of xx. If NN is odd and σ(N)=2N\sigma(N) = 2N, then the odd perfect number NN is said to be given in Eulerian form if N=qkn2N = {q^k}{n^2} where qq is prime with qk1(mod4)q \equiv k \equiv 1 \pmod 4 and gcd(q,n)=1\gcd(q,n) = 1. In this note, we show that q<nq < n implies that Descartes's conjecture (previously Sorli's conjecture), k=νq(N)=1k = \nu_{q}(N) = 1, is not true. This then implies an unconditional proof for the biconditional k=νq(N)=1n<q.k = \nu_{q}(N) = 1 \Longleftrightarrow n < q. Lastly, following a recent result of Cohen and Sorli, we show that if q<nq < n, then either q>5q > 5 or k>5k > 5 is true. (Note: This is withdrawn for now because this paper is currently a work in progress.)

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1311.6803,
  title  = {A Sufficient Condition for Disproving Descartes's Conjecture on Odd Perfect Numbers},
  author = {Jose Arnaldo B. Dris},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1311.6803},
  year   = {2022}
}

Comments

This paper has been withdrawn due to a crucial logical error in Theorem 2.2. It is currently a work in progress, albeit researched in a different direction