Definition:Abundance

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Definition

Let $n \in \Z_{\ge 0}$ be a positive integer.

Let $\map {\sigma_1} n$ be the divisor sum function of $n$.

That is, let $\map {\sigma_1} n$ be the sum of all positive divisors of $n$.


Then the abundance of $n$ is defined as $\map A n = \map {\sigma_1} n - 2 n$.


Abundant Number

Let $\map A n$ denote the abundance of $n$.

$n$ is abundant if and only if $\map A n > 0$.


Perfect Number

Let $A \left({n}\right)$ denote the abundance of $n$.

$n$ is perfect if and only if $A \left({n}\right) = 0$.


Quasiperfect Number

Let $A \left({n}\right)$ denote the abundance of $n$.

$n$ is quasiperfect if and only if $A \left({n}\right) = 1$.


Almost Perfect Number

Let $A \left({n}\right)$ denote the abundance of $n$.

$n$ is almost perfect if and only if $A \left({n}\right) = -1$.


Deficient Number

Let $A \left({n}\right)$ denote the abundance of $n$.

$n$ is deficient if and only if $A \left({n}\right) < 0$.


Also known as

There may possibly be a vanishingly tiny usage which refers to abundance as the excedent function.


Also see

  • Results about abundance can be found here.


Historical Note

The concepts of abundant and deficient appear to have originated with the Neo-Pythagorean school, in particular Nicomachus of Gerasa, who wrote fancifully on the subject in his Ἀριθμητικὴ εἰσαγωγή (Introduction to Arithmetic).