Exercise · ZW-DIVISOR-FUNCTIONS-003 · ★☆☆ Basic
State the formula for \( \tau(p^a) \) for a prime \( p \) and \( a\geq 0 \).
Choose one option.
Show answer
- D. \( a+1 \)
Explanation
The divisors of \( p^a \) are \( 1,p,\ldots,p^a \), which total \( a+1 \). The option giving \( p^a \) confuses the number of divisors with the number itself.
Review the concept: Divisor functions
The divisor functions \( \sigma_k(n) \) and \( \tau(n) \) give, respectively, the sum of the \( k \)-th powers and the number of positive divisors of an integer \( n \geq 1 \).
\[\sigma_k(n)=\sum_{d\mid n} d^{k},\quad \tau(n)=\sigma_0(n)\]
More practice problems: divisor functions
- ZW-DIVISOR-FUNCTIONS-001 How many positive divisors does 12 have?
- ZW-DIVISOR-FUNCTIONS-002 Compute σ_1(6) , the sum of the positive divisors of 6 .
- ZW-DIVISOR-FUNCTIONS-004 What is σ_0(n) for any n≥ 1 ?
- ZW-DIVISOR-FUNCTIONS-005 Compute τ(7) , where 7 is prime.
- ZW-DIVISOR-FUNCTIONS-006 Compute τ(72) using the factorization 72=2^3· 3^2 .
- ZW-DIVISOR-FUNCTIONS-007 Compute σ_1(15) using that σ_1 is multiplicative.
- ZW-DIVISOR-FUNCTIONS-008 Compute σ_2(4) , the sum of the squares of the positive divisors of 4 .
- ZW-DIVISOR-FUNCTIONS-009 Let n=2^4· 3^2 . Compute τ(n^2) and compare it with τ(n)^2 . Are they equal?