Additive function

In number theory, an additive function is an arithmetic function f(n) of the positive integer n such that whenever a and b are coprime, the function of the product is the sum of the functions:^[1]

f(ab) = f(a) + f(b).

Completely additive

An additive function f(n) is said to be completely additive if f(ab) = f(a) + f(b) holds for all positive integers a and b, even when they are not co-prime. Totally additive is also used in this sense by analogy with totally multiplicative functions. If f is a completely additive function then f(1) = 0.

Every completely additive function is additive, but not vice versa.

Examples

Example of arithmetic functions which are completely additive are:

• The restriction of the logarithmic function to N.
• The multiplicity of a prime factor p in n, that is the largest exponent m for which p^m divides n.
• a₀(n) - the sum of primes dividing n counting multiplicity, sometimes called sopfr(n), the potency of n or the integer logarithm of n (sequence A001414 in OEIS). For example:

a₀(4) = 2 + 2 = 4

a₀(20) = a₀(2² · 5) = 2 + 2+ 5 = 9

a₀(27) = 3 + 3 + 3 = 9

a₀(144) = a₀(2⁴ · 3²) = a₀(2⁴) + a₀(3²) = 8 + 6 = 14

a₀(2,000) = a₀(2⁴ · 5³) = a₀(2⁴) + a₀(5³) = 8 + 15 = 23

a₀(2,003) = 2003

a₀(54,032,858,972,279) = 1240658

a₀(54,032,858,972,302) = 1780417

a₀(20,802,650,704,327,415) = 1240681

• The function Ω(n), defined as the total number of prime factors of n, counting multiple factors multiple times, sometimes called the "Big Omega function" (sequence A001222 in OEIS). For example;

Ω(1) = 0, since 1 has no prime factors

Ω(4) = 2

Ω(16) = Ω(2·2·2·2) = 4

Ω(20) = Ω(2·2·5) = 3

Ω(27) = Ω(3·3·3) = 3

Ω(144) = Ω(2⁴ · 3²) = Ω(2⁴) + Ω(3²) = 4 + 2 = 6

Ω(2,000) = Ω(2⁴ · 5³) = Ω(2⁴) + Ω(5³) = 4 + 3 = 7

Ω(2,001) = 3

Ω(2,002) = 4

Ω(2,003) = 1

Ω(54,032,858,972,279) = 3

Ω(54,032,858,972,302) = 6

Ω(20,802,650,704,327,415) = 7

Example of arithmetic functions which are additive but not completely additive are:

• ω(n), defined as the total number of different prime factors of n (sequence A001221 in OEIS). For example:

ω(4) = 1

ω(16) = ω(2⁴) = 1

ω(20) = ω(2² · 5) = 2

ω(27) = ω(3³) = 1

ω(144) = ω(2⁴ · 3²) = ω(2⁴) + ω(3²) = 1 + 1 = 2

ω(2,000) = ω(2⁴ · 5³) = ω(2⁴) + ω(5³) = 1 + 1 = 2

ω(2,001) = 3

ω(2,002) = 4

ω(2,003) = 1

ω(54,032,858,972,279) = 3

ω(54,032,858,972,302) = 5

ω(20,802,650,704,327,415) = 5

• a₁(n) - the sum of the distinct primes dividing n, sometimes called sopf(n) (sequence A008472 in OEIS). For example:

a₁(1) = 0

a₁(4) = 2

a₁(20) = 2 + 5 = 7

a₁(27) = 3

a₁(144) = a₁(2⁴ · 3²) = a₁(2⁴) + a₁(3²) = 2 + 3 = 5

a₁(2,000) = a₁(2⁴ · 5³) = a₁(2⁴) + a₁(5³) = 2 + 5 = 7

a₁(2,001) = 55

a₁(2,002) = 33

a₁(2,003) = 2003

a₁(54,032,858,972,279) = 1238665

a₁(54,032,858,972,302) = 1780410

a₁(20,802,650,704,327,415) = 1238677

Multiplicative functions

From any additive function f(n) it is easy to create a related multiplicative function g(n) i.e. with the property that whenever a and b are coprime we have:

g(ab) = g(a) × g(b).

One such example is g(n) = 2^f(n).

See also

• Sigma additivity

References

1. Erdös, P., and M. Kac. On the Gaussian Law of Errors in the Theory of Additive Functions. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1939 April; 25(4): 206–207. online

Further reading

• Janko Bračič, Kolobar aritmetičnih funkcij (Ring of arithmetical functions), (Obzornik mat, fiz. 49 (2002) 4, pp. 97–108) (MSC (2000) 11A25)