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Theorem

Erdos-Kac Theorem

Number Theory

The Erdos-Kac Theorem states that the number of distinct prime factors of a large random integer, once centered and rescaled using the iterated logarithm of that integer, converges in distribution to a standard normal distribution. Named for Paul Erdos and Mark Kac, it is often described as a central limit theorem for the number of prime factors of an integer, one of the earliest and best known results linking probability theory to number theory.

Facts
Statement
If omega(n) is the number of distinct prime factors of n, then, loosely speaking, the probability distribution of omega(n) minus log log n, divided by the square root of log log n, is the standard normal distribution. 1
Proof Year
1940 1
Classification
Statement Form
Existence Theorem 1
Connections

Proved By

Sources
1. Erdos-Kac theorem (Wikipedia)
  • Lead section, first sentence
    states that if omega(n) is the number of distinct prime factors of n, then, loosely speaking, the probability distribution of omega(n) - log log n / sqrt(log log n) is the standard normal distribution
  • References section
    Erdos, Paul, Kac, Mark (1940). The Gaussian Law of Errors in the Theory of Additive Number Theoretic Functions. American Journal of Mathematics.
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