semiperfect number


Given an integer n and the subsets of its proper divisors di|n and di<n (thus 0<i<τ(n) where τ is the divisor functionMathworldPlanetmath), is there at least one subset whose elements add up to n? If yes, then n is a semiperfect number or pseudoperfect number.

Since the complete set of proper divisors is also technically considered a subset, then a fully perfect number is also a semiperfect number. Perhaps just as obviously, no deficient number can be semiperfect; thus all semiperfect numbers are either abundant numbers or perfect numbers.

If the abundance a(n) happens to be a divisorMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmath of n, then the divisor subset that excludes a(n) is the obvious choice, but some semiperfect numbers are so in more than one way: 12 for example can be expressed as 1 + 2 + 3 + 6 but also as 2 + 4 + 6.

Just as a multipleMathworldPlanetmath of an abundant number is another abundant number, so is the multiple of a semiperfect number another semiperfect number.

The first few semiperfect numbers that are not multiples of perfect numbers are 20, 40, 80, 88. A005835 of Sloane’s OEIS lists all the semiperfect numbers less than 265 and provides a simple means of reckoning them, by counting the number of partitionsMathworldPlanetmath of n into distinct divisors and culling those that have more than 1.

All primary pseudoperfect numbers (except 2) are also semiperfect. An abundant number that is not semiperfect is a weird number.

Title semiperfect number
Canonical name SemiperfectNumber
Date of creation 2013-03-22 16:18:33
Last modified on 2013-03-22 16:18:33
Owner CompositeFan (12809)
Last modified by CompositeFan (12809)
Numerical id 5
Author CompositeFan (12809)
Entry type Definition
Classification msc 11D85
Synonym pseudoperfect number