# Definition:Tau Function

## Definition

Let $n$ be an integer such that $n \ge 1$.

The $\tau$ (tau) function is defined on $n$ as being the total number of positive integer divisors of $n$.

That is:

$\displaystyle \map \tau n = \sum_{d \mathop \divides n} 1$

where $\displaystyle \sum_{d \mathop \divides n}$ is the sum over all divisors of $n$.

## Also known as

Some sources refer to this as the divisor function and denote it $\map d n$, but as there is a more general definition of the divisor function the more precise name tau function is preferred.

It can also be referred to as the divisor counting function.

## Examples

### $\tau$ of $1$

The value of the $\tau$ function for the integer $1$ is $1$.

### $\tau$ of $3$

$\tau \left({3}\right) = 2$

### $\tau$ of $12$

$\tau \left({12}\right) = 6$

### $\tau$ of $60$

$\tau \left({60}\right) = 12$

### $\tau$ of $105$

$\tau \left({105}\right) = 8$

### $\tau$ of $108$

$\tau \left({108}\right) = 12$

### $\tau$ of $110$

$\tau \left({110}\right) = 8$

### $\tau$ of $120$

$\tau \left({120}\right) = 16$

## Also see

• Results about the $\tau$ function can be found here.

## Linguistic Note

The name of the Greek letter $\tau$ (tau) is properly pronounced to rhyme with cow not caw.