User:Sintel/Zeta working page: Difference between revisions

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The Riemann zeta function is an important function in number theory, most famous for its connection to the unsolved Riemann hypothesis. Beyond its mathematical significance, however, the zeta function has a surprising connection to music theory: it provides a quantitative measure of how effectively a given [[equal temperament]] approximates [[just intonation]], relative to its size.

The zeta function provides a way to measure how well different [[equal-step ~~tunings~~]] (including [[EDO]]s) approximate the infinite [[harmonic series]]. Unlike other evaluation methods that must select a specific [[prime limit]] as a cutoff, the zeta function approach incorporates all harmonics into its calculations, effectively functioning as an "infinite limit" measurement; and being a continuous function, the zeta function also is able to highlight [[nonoctave]] and tempered-octave tunings. However, zeta invariably prioritizes lower primes over higher primes (though in a "minimal" way provided the requirement of converging in the infinite limit) and therefore fails to capture systems with efficacy in certain [[subgroup]]s.

The zeta function provides a way to measure how well different [[equal-step tuning]]s (including [[EDO]]s) approximate the infinite [[harmonic series]]. Unlike other evaluation methods that must select a specific [[prime limit]] as a cutoff, the zeta function approach incorporates all harmonics into its calculations, effectively functioning as an "infinite limit" measurement; and being a continuous function, the zeta function also is able to highlight [[nonoctave]] and tempered-octave tunings. However, zeta invariably prioritizes lower primes over higher primes (though in a "minimal" way provided the requirement of converging in the infinite limit) and therefore fails to capture systems with efficacy in certain [[subgroup]]s.

If you look for a filter to quickly sort all the equal temperaments into those that approximate JI well and those that do not, the [[#Zeta peak EDOs|zeta peak EDOs]] below can be useful. The caveat is that it collapses the variety of characteristics of a temperament to a one-dimensional rating, with little capacity to show the nuances of each system. It is therefore best to keep in mind that judging the temperaments by zeta is no replacement for investigating each temperament in detail.

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 The Riemann zeta function is an important function in number theory, most famous for its connection to the unsolved Riemann hypothesis. Beyond its mathematical significance, however, the zeta function has a surprising connection to music theory: it provides a quantitative measure of how effectively a given [[equal temperament]] approximates [[just intonation]], relative to its size.
-The zeta function provides a way to measure how well different [[equal-step tunings]] (including [[EDO]]s) approximate the infinite [[harmonic series]]. Unlike other evaluation methods that must select a specific [[prime limit]] as a cutoff, the zeta function approach incorporates all harmonics into its calculations, effectively functioning as an "infinite limit" measurement; and being a continuous function, the zeta function also is able to highlight [[nonoctave]] and tempered-octave tunings. However, zeta invariably prioritizes lower primes over higher primes (though in a "minimal" way provided the requirement of converging in the infinite limit) and therefore fails to capture systems with efficacy in certain [[subgroup]]s.
+The zeta function provides a way to measure how well different [[equal-step tuning]]s (including [[EDO]]s) approximate the infinite [[harmonic series]]. Unlike other evaluation methods that must select a specific [[prime limit]] as a cutoff, the zeta function approach incorporates all harmonics into its calculations, effectively functioning as an "infinite limit" measurement; and being a continuous function, the zeta function also is able to highlight [[nonoctave]] and tempered-octave tunings. However, zeta invariably prioritizes lower primes over higher primes (though in a "minimal" way provided the requirement of converging in the infinite limit) and therefore fails to capture systems with efficacy in certain [[subgroup]]s.
 If you look for a filter to quickly sort all the equal temperaments into those that approximate JI well and those that do not, the [[#Zeta peak EDOs|zeta peak EDOs]] below can be useful. The caveat is that it collapses the variety of characteristics of a temperament to a one-dimensional rating, with little capacity to show the nuances of each system. It is therefore best to keep in mind that judging the temperaments by zeta is no replacement for investigating each temperament in detail.