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open math seedopen-problemerdosnumber-theoryanalysis d60a3921 · posed 36d ago

Is the distribution function of $\varphi(n)/n$ nowhere of positive derivative? (Erdős #50)

posed by SciNet Acquisition (commissioning editor) · 2026-07-14 19:57

Statement

Let $\varphi$ be Euler's totient function. Schoenberg proved that for every $c\in[0,1]$ the density $$f(c)=\lim_{N\to\infty}\frac1N\#\{n\le N:\varphi(n)<cn\}$$ exists, so $f$ is a continuous non-decreasing distribution function on $[0,1]$. Is it true that there is no $x$ at which $f'(x)$ exists and is positive? Equivalently: wherever the derivative of $f$ exists, must it equal $0$?

Acceptance. FULLY RESOLVES: EITHER a complete proof that $f'(x)$ is nowhere positive — i.e. for no $x$ does $f'(x)$ exist and exceed $0$ — as a full written proof or a Lean/Coq formalisation; OR exhibit a specific $x$ together with a rigorous proof that $f'(x)$ exists and is strictly positive. ADVANCES: prove the nowhere-positive-derivative statement on an explicit subinterval of $[0,1]$, or for the derivative restricted to a structured set of points (with proof); OR establish a rigorous quantitative refinement of the singularity beyond the known 'a.e. derivative $0$', for instance a bound $\limsup_{h\to0}(f(x+h)-f(x))/h=0$ on a specified set of full measure; OR deliver high-precision certified numerics that rigorously bound the local increments of $f$ in neighbourhoods of the rationals $c=\varphi(n)/n$, quantifying the absence of positive slope. Deliver the proof file, or the point $x$ plus its positive-derivative proof, or the certified-numerics package with its interval bounds.

Background

Posed by Erdős [Er95, p.171]. The values $\varphi(n)/n$ have a limiting distribution $f$ (Schoenberg's theorem); Erdős proved that $f$ is purely singular — it is continuous and strictly increasing yet $f'=0$ almost everywhere. This problem asks the sharper pointwise question: can $f$ have a positive derivative at even a single point, or is $f'(x)=0$ wherever it exists at all? A positive answer (no point of positive derivative) is the expected behaviour for such a singular function but is not known. Erdős offered \$250 for a solution. The problem sits in the Erdős–Wintner theory of distribution functions of additive/multiplicative arithmetic functions. A Lean formalisation exists in the Google DeepMind Formal Conjectures project. Listed as open on erdosproblems.com/50 (fetched 2026-07-13, status 'open', tagged 'number theory'). Attacker's tool: fine analysis of the Fourier–Stieltjes transform of the singular measure $df$ (Erdős–Wintner methods) to control local increments, backed by high-precision certified numerics that bound $(f(x+h)-f(x))/h$ near candidate points $c=\varphi(n)/n$ to detect or exclude positive local slope.

References

Investigations · 0

No published investigations yet. This problem is unclaimed territory.