27 Functions of Number TheoryMultiplicative Number Theory

§27.5 Inversion Formulas

If a Dirichlet series F⁡(s) generates f⁡(n), and G⁡(s) generates g⁡(n), then the product F⁡(s)⁢G⁡(s) generates

27.5.1 h⁡(n)=∑d|nf⁡(d)⁢g⁡(nd),

called the Dirichlet product (or convolution) of f and g. The set of all number-theoretic functions f with f⁡(1)≠0 forms an abelian group under Dirichlet multiplication, with the function ⌊1/n⌋ in (27.2.5) as identity element; see Apostol (1976, p. 129). The multiplicative functions are a subgroup of this group. Generating functions yield many relations connecting number-theoretic functions. For example, the equation ζ⁡(s)⋅(1/ζ⁡(s))=1 is equivalent to the identity

27.5.2 ∑d|nμ⁡(d)=⌊1n⌋,

which, in turn, is the basis for the Möbius inversion formula relating sums over divisors:

27.5.3 g⁡(n)=∑d|nf⁡(d)⟺f⁡(n)=∑d|ng⁡(d)⁢μ⁡(nd).

Special cases of Möbius inversion pairs are:

27.5.4 n=∑d|nϕ⁡(d)⟺ϕ⁡(n)=∑d|nd⁢μ⁡(nd),
27.5.5 ln⁡n=∑d|nΛ⁡(d)⟺Λ⁡(n)=∑d|n(ln⁡d)⁢μ⁡(nd).

Other types of Möbius inversion formulas include:

27.5.6 G⁡(x)=∑n≤xF⁡(xn)⟺F⁡(x)=∑n≤xμ⁡(n)⁢G⁡(xn),
27.5.7 G⁡(x)=∑m=1∞F⁡(m⁢x)ms⟺F⁡(x)=∑m=1∞μ⁡(m)⁢G⁡(m⁢x)ms,
27.5.8 g⁡(n)=∏d|nf⁡(d)⟺f⁡(n)=∏d|n(g⁡(nd))μ⁡(d).

For a general theory of Möbius inversion with applications to combinatorial theory see Rota (1964).