On the equation $\mathbf{m=xyzw}$ with $\mathbf{x\leqslant y\leqslant z\leqslant w}$ in positive integers

Madjid Mirzavaziri, Daniel Yaqubi

Published 2014-12-01Version 1

As a well-known enumerative problem, the number of solutions of the equation $m=m_1+...+m_k$ with $m_1\leqslant...\leqslant m_k$ in positive integers is $\Pi(m,k)=\sum_{i=0}^k\Pi(m-k,i)$ and $\Pi$ is called the additive partition function. In this paper, we give a recursive formula for the so-called multiplicative partition function $\mu_1(m,k):=$ the number of solutions of the equation $m=m_1... m_k$ with $m_1\leqslant...\leqslant m_k$ in positive integers. In particular, using an elementary proof, we give an explicit formula for the cases $k=1,2,3,4$.