Prime Ratio

Discussion in 'Science and Technology' started by MikeE, Jan 28, 2007.

  1. MikeE

    MikeE Hip Forums Supporter HipForums Supporter

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    Does anyone know this Number Theory factoid?

    Define Prime Ratio (N) as the number of primes <=N divided by N.

    There are 4 prime numbers less than or equal to 10 (2,3,5,7),
    so the Prime Ratio(10) is 4/10
    PR(11)=5/11
    PR(12)=5/12

    etc.

    Does the Prime Ratio converge as n>>infinity?

    Is this an open question?
     
  2. fat_tony

    fat_tony Member

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    Im not sure im every happy with the statement n >> infinity ill assume you mean n -> infinity. As far as I know the major convergence tests, at least, require being able to determine the nth term which isn't always possible here as you cant predict prime numbers. I cant think of a good reason why it would converge. But as I say I don't know if theres a proof i don't know all that much about very pure maths.
     
  3. MikeE

    MikeE Hip Forums Supporter HipForums Supporter

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    OK, its an obscure little Number therory question that I don't have the answer to. Thanks for showing me the --> limit symbol (I forgot about "much larger").

    Primes are odd. I know that there are infinite pairs of primes where both p and p+2 are prime, so primes don't nessesarily get rarer as n gets large.
     
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