English

Transcendence of generating functions whose coefficients are multiplicative

Number Theory 2010-03-15 v3

Abstract

Let KK be a field of characteristic 0, f:NKf:\mathbb{N}\to K be a multiplicative function, and F(z)=n1f(n)znK[[z]]F(z)=\sum_{n\geq 1} f(n)z^n\in K[[z]] be algebraic over K(z)K(z). Then either there is a natural number kk and a periodic multiplicative function χ(n)\chi(n) such that f(n)=nkχ(n)f(n)=n^k \chi(n) for all nn, or f(n)f(n) is eventually zero. In particular, the generating function of a multiplicative function f:NKf:\mathbb{N}\to K is either transcendental or rational.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0903.5240,
  title  = {Transcendence of generating functions whose coefficients are multiplicative},
  author = {Jason P. Bell and Michael Coons},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0903.5240},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

This paper has been withdrawn and replaced with a more current version; see arXiv:1003.2221

R2 v1 2026-06-21T12:46:09.741Z