Exercise · ZW-MOBIUS-FUNCTION-009 · ★☆☆ Basic

If \(p\) is prime and \(k\ge 2\), what is \(\mu(p^k)\)?

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Explanation

\(p^k\) has the prime \(p\) repeated, so \(\mu(p^k)=0\) regardless of \(p\) or \(k\).

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Review the concept: Möbius function

The Möbius function \(\mu(n)\) is an arithmetic function: it equals \(1\) if \(n=1\), \((-1)^k\) if \(n\) is a product of \(k\) distinct primes, and \(0\) if \(n\) has a repeated prime factor.

\[\sum_{d\mid n}\mu(d)=\begin{cases}1 & n=1\\ 0 & n>1\end{cases}\]

More practice problems: möbius function

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