English

Positivity of partial sums of a random multiplicative function and corresponding problems for the Legendre symbol

Number Theory 2025-12-19 v2

Abstract

Let f(n)f(n) be a random completely multiplicative function such that f(p)=±1f(p) = \pm 1 with probabilities 1/21/2 independently at each prime. We study the conditional probability, given that f(p)=1f(p) = 1 for all p<yp < y, that all partial sums of f(n)f(n) up to xx are nonnegative. We prove that for yC(logx)2log2xlog3xy \ge C \frac{(\log x)^2 \log_2 x}{\log_3 x} this probability equals 1o(1)1 - o(1). We also study the probability PxP_x' that nxf(n)n\sum_{n \le x} \frac{f(n)}{n} is negative. We prove that Pxexp(exp(logxlog4x(1+o(1))log3x))P_x' \ll \exp \left( - \exp \left( \frac{\log x \log_4 x}{(1 + o(1)) \log_3 x} \right) \right), which improves a bound given by Kerr and Klurman. Under a conjecture closely related to Hal\'asz's theorem, we prove that Pxexp(xα)P_x' \ll \exp(-x^{\alpha}) for some α>0\alpha > 0. Let χp(n)=(np)\chi_p(n) = \left( \frac{n}{p} \right) be the Legendre symbol modulo pp. For a prime pp chosen uniformly at random from (x,2x](x, 2x], we express the probability that all partial sums of χp(n)n\frac{\chi_p(n)}{n} are nonnegative in terms of the probability that partial sums of f(n)n\frac{f(n)}{n} are nonnegative.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2510.25691,
  title  = {Positivity of partial sums of a random multiplicative function and corresponding problems for the Legendre symbol},
  author = {Petr Kucheriaviy},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.25691},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

29 pages. The statement of Lemma 3.4(ii) was corrected, which led to a corresponding correction in the proof of Proposition 4. Some minor corrections were made to improve the presentation