Number derivative
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In mathematics, the number derivative can be defined for integers, based on prime factorization and in analogy with the product rule for the derivative of a function. For a natural number k, the number derivative k' is defined by
The sequence of number derivatives for k = 0, 1, 2, ... begins (sequence A003415 in OEIS):
- 0, 0, 1, 1, 4, 1, 5, 1, 12, 6, 7, 1, 16, 1, 9, ...
Some important concepts in number theory can be related to equations of number derivatives. For example, Goldbach's conjecture would imply the existence of an n so that n' = 2k for every k, and the twin prime conjecture would imply that there are infinitely many k for which k'' = 1.
[edit] References
- L. Westrick. Investigations of the Number Derivative.
- Peterson, I. Math Trek: Deriving the Structure of Numbers.
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