P = p odd prime ∏ p 4 − 1 p 4 + 1
Write P = b a , where a and b are coprime positive integers, and enter a + b .
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Even I did the same way. The problem is how do we prove the value of zeta(8)?
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Would you mind explaining in more detail how this problem leads us to a proof for the value of ζ ( 8 ) ?
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The value of zeta(8) can be obtained from internet. But how do we find it? Is there a method of obtaining the value of zeta(8)?
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@Aditya Kumar – Oh I misread what you wrote, I thought you were suggesting this problem is how we can find ζ ( 8 ) .
Yes, like I said in my solution above, we can calculate ζ ( 2 n ) via the Bernoulli numbers. ζ ( 2 n ) = 2 ( 2 n ) ! ( − 1 ) n + 1 B 2 n ( 2 π ) 2 n
We can more or less easily calculate B 8 and thus find ζ ( 8 ) .
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@Isaac Buckley – A (relatively) easy way to find ζ ( 2 n ) is as the coefficients of the Taylor series of − 2 π x cot ( π x )
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@Otto Bretscher – This is new to me, now I'm gonna have to figure out why this is the case.
Cheers Otto!
@Otto Bretscher – I didn't know about this. Thanks.
@Otto Bretscher – Is there a reason why this works? Can't be a strange coincidence right?
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@Pi Han Goh – You see the connection if you meditate over ∑ n = 1 ∞ ∑ k = 1 ∞ n 2 k z 2 k , Comrade!
yes, exactly... very clear and straightforward! (+1)
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If we first consider the product over all primes (call it Q ) then we have by using the Euler product:
Q = Primes ∏ p 4 − 1 p 4 + 1 = Primes ∏ 1 − p 4 1 1 + p 4 1 = Primes ∏ ( 1 − p 4 1 ) 2 1 − p 8 1 = ζ ( 8 ) ζ ( 4 ) 2
You can work out the exact values of ζ ( 2 n ) for all non-negative integers n with the Bernoulli numbers.
I have the first few values memorised and it comes out as Q = 9 4 5 0 π 8 ( 9 0 π 4 ) 2 = 6 7 .
It's easy enough to see that Q = 2 4 − 1 2 4 + 1 P since 2 is the only even prime.
We simplify and get P = 3 4 3 5 .