Solving the Odd Perfect Number Problem: Some New Approaches

TL;DR

This paper explores new mathematical approaches to the long-standing odd perfect number problem, disproving a conjecture, establishing inequalities, and providing bounds related to the structure of odd perfect numbers.

Contribution

It introduces novel inequalities and bounds for odd perfect numbers, disproves a specific conjecture, and generalizes results to the prime factorization structure of OPNs.

Findings

Disproved the conjecture relating OPNs to rational points on a hyperbolic arc.

Established that for an OPN, p^k < (2/3)m^2.

Proved that for the prime factorization of an OPN, σ(p_i^α_i) ≤ (2/3) N / p_i^α_i.

Abstract

A conjecture predicting an injective and surjective mapping $X = \displaystyle\frac{\sigma(p^k)}{p^k}, Y = \displaystyle\frac{\sigma(m^2)}{m^2}$ between OPNs $N = {p^k}{m^2}$ (with Euler factor $p^k$) and rational points on the hyperbolic arc $XY = 2$ with $1 < X < 1.25 < 1.6 < Y < 2$ and $2.85 < X + Y < 3$, is disproved. We will show that if an OPN $N$ has the form above, then $p^k < {2/3}{m^2}$. We then give a somewhat weaker corollary to this last result ($m^2 - p^k \ge 8$) and give possible improvements along these lines. We will also attempt to prove a conjectured improvement to $p^k < m$ by observing that $\displaystyle\frac{\sigma(p^k)}{m} \ne 1$ and $\displaystyle\frac{\sigma(p^k)}{m} \ne \displaystyle\frac{\sigma(m)}{p^k}$ in all cases. Lastly, we also prove the following generalization: If $N = \displaystyle\prod_{i = 1}^{r}{{p_i}^{\alpha_i}}$ is the canonical factorization of an OPN $N$, then $\displaystyle\sigma({p_i}^{\alpha_i}) \le \displaystyle(2/3)\displaystyle\frac{N}{{p_i}^{\alpha_i}}$ for all $i$. This gives rise to the inequality $N^{2 - r} \le (1/3){(2/3)}^{r - 1}$, which is true for all $r$, where $r = \omega(N)$ is the number of distinct prime factors of $N$.