An iteration on the prime factors of a number

Lakshmi, R. Rohini (2016) An iteration on the prime factors of a number. At Right Angles, 5 (3). pp. 28-29. ISSN 2582-1873

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Abstract

In this short note I study the behaviour of a function f defined in the positive integers exceeding 1 (namely, the set {2, 3, 4, 5,...}), when it is applied over and over again on itself. Here is its definition. Given a positive integer n > 1, we compute f(n) as follows. First, we check whether n is prime or composite. If n is prime, then f(n) = n + 1. If n is composite, then we set f(n) to be equal to the sum of all the prime numbers which divide n, each prime number being added as many times as it divides n.

Item Type:	Articles in APF Magazines
Authors:	Lakshmi, R. Rohini
Document Language:	Language English
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Function, Prime number, Prime factorisation, Composite, Iteration
Subjects:	Natural Sciences > Mathematics
Divisions:	Azim Premji University > University Publications > At Right Angles
Full Text Status:	Public
URI:	http://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/id/eprint/3128
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