Thursday, 29 January 2026

Exercise (4.5).3

(a) Show that $n$ is an abundant number $\iff 𝜎 (n) > 2n$.

(b) Show that $n$ is a deficient number $\iff 𝜎 (n) < 2n$.

(c) Show that $n$ is a perfect number $\iff 𝜎 (n) = 2n$.

Characterise the numbers in question 2 into perfect, abundant, or deficient numbers.


(a) An abundant number $n$ is one where the sum of its proper factors $p(n)$ is greater than $n$.

Noting the definition $\sigma(n) = p(n) + n$, we have

$$ \text{abundant }n \iff p(n) > n \iff \sigma(n) > n + n  \iff \sigma(n) > 2n $$


(b) A deficient number $n$ is one where the sum of its proper factors $p(n)$ is less than $n$. 

Noting the definition $\sigma(n) = p(n) + n$, we have

$$ \text{deficient }n \iff p(n) < n \iff \sigma(n) < n + n  \iff \sigma(n) < 2n $$


(c) A perfect number $n$ is one where the sum of its proper factors $p(n)$ equals $n$. 

Noting the definition $\sigma(n) = p(n) + n$, we have

$$ \text{perfect }n \iff p(n) = n \iff \sigma(n) = n + n  \iff \sigma(n) = 2n $$


We characterise the numbers from exercise 2 as follows:

  • 15 is a deficient number because $\sigma(15) = 24 < 30$
  • 77 is a deficient number because $\sigma(77)=96 < 154$
  • 171 is a deficient number because $\sigma(171) = 260 < 342$
  • 200 is an abundant number because $\sigma(200)=465 > 400$