The distribution of integers with a divisor in a given interval
Abstract
Description
We determine the order of magnitude of H(x,y,z), the number of integers n\le x having a divisor in (y,z], for all x,y and z. We also study H_r(x,y,z), the number of integers n\le x having exactly r divisors in (y,z]. When r=1 we establish the order of magnitude of H_1(x,y,z) for all x,y,z satisfying z\le x^{0.49}. For every r\ge 2, $C>1$ and $ε>0$, we determine the the order of magnitude of H_r(x,y,z) when y is large and y+y/(\log y)^{\log 4 -1 - ε} \le z \le \min(y^{C},x^{1/2-ε}). As a consequence of these bounds, we settle a 1960 conjecture of Erdos and several related conjectures. One key element of the proofs is a new result on the distribution of uniform order statistics.
Final version. Greatly simplified proof of Lemma 4.7 in Sec. 10, references updated, other minor corrections
Final version. Greatly simplified proof of Lemma 4.7 in Sec. 10, references updated, other minor corrections