Wilson norm: Difference between revisions

Mike Battaglia (talk | contribs)
Mike Battaglia (talk | contribs)
sopf -> sopfr (sum of prime factors with *repetition*)
Line 1: Line 1:
The '''Wilson height''' is a different way of weighting rational numbers than the [[Tenney height]], but has some very beneficial properties that make it an excellent metric to look at.
The '''Wilson height''' is a different way of weighting rational numbers than the [[Tenney height]], but has some very beneficial properties that make it an excellent metric to look at.


If p/q is a positive rational number reduced to its lowest terms, then the Wilson height is the [http://mathworld.wolfram.com/SumofPrimeFactors.html "sum of prime factors"] of the number p*q, counting multiplicity. This function is often written <math>\text{sopf}(pq)</math>.
If p/q is a positive rational number reduced to its lowest terms, then the Wilson height is the [http://mathworld.wolfram.com/SumofPrimeFactors.html "sum of prime factors"] of the number p*q, counting multiplicity. This function is often written <math>\text{sopfr}(pq)</math>.


Note that we have <math>\text{sopf}(pq) = \text{sopf}(p) + \text{sopf}(q)</math>, similar to the logarithm -- as a result, this function is sometimes even referred to as the "integer logarithm." So, equivalently, we can define the Wilson height of a rational number p/q as the Wilson height of p, plus the Wilson height of q.
Note that we have <math>\text{sopfr}(pq) = \text{sopfr}(p) + \text{sopfr}(q)</math>, similar to the logarithm -- as a result, this function is sometimes even referred to as the "integer logarithm." So, equivalently, we can define the Wilson height of a rational number p/q as the Wilson height of p, plus the Wilson height of q.


== Example ==
== Example ==


The sum of prime factors function is fairly simple: for some number, simply list all the prime factors (multiple times if they appear more than once), and add them together. For instance, for the number "81", we have 81=3*3*3*3, so the Wilson height is 3+3+3+3 = 12. Likewise, for the number "80", we have 80 = 2*2*2*2*5, so the Wilson height is 2+2+2+2+5 = 13. The sum of both is 25, which is the Wilson height of 81/80 - also obtainable by saying that 81*80 = 6480 = 2*2*2*2*3*3*3*3*5, for which the sopf is 2+2+2+2+3+3+3+3+5 = 25.
The sum of prime factors function is fairly simple: for some number, simply list all the prime factors (multiple times if they appear more than once), and add them together. For instance, for the number "81", we have 81=3*3*3*3, so the Wilson height is 3+3+3+3 = 12. Likewise, for the number "80", we have 80 = 2*2*2*2*5, so the Wilson height is 2+2+2+2+5 = 13. The sum of both is 25, which is the Wilson height of 81/80 - also obtainable by saying that 81*80 = 6480 = 2*2*2*2*3*3*3*3*5, for which the sopfr is 2+2+2+2+3+3+3+3+5 = 25.


This measure can similarly be extended to JI chords, so that the Wilson height of a:b:c is equal to the sum of the sopf's of a, b, and c. This definition can be scaled by a constant depending only on the size of the chord, so as to make it easier to compare chords of different cardinalities.
This measure can similarly be extended to JI chords, so that the Wilson height of a:b:c is equal to the sum of the sopfr's of a, b, and c. This definition can be scaled by a constant depending only on the size of the chord, so as to make it easier to compare chords of different cardinalities.


== Uses==
== Uses==
Line 27: Line 27:
4. When used on JI intervals, such as 15/8, this measures how well the interval can fit into simple JI chords with simple subsets. For instance, 15/8 fits into 8:10:15, 8:12:15, 8:10:12:15, each of which has simple subsets such as 2:3, 4:5, 4:5:6, etc. It has a Wilson height of 14. In comparison, 13/6 does not have quite as many simple-subset triads and tetrads that it can fit into, and has a Wilson height of 18 (which is not that much worse).
4. When used on JI intervals, such as 15/8, this measures how well the interval can fit into simple JI chords with simple subsets. For instance, 15/8 fits into 8:10:15, 8:12:15, 8:10:12:15, each of which has simple subsets such as 2:3, 4:5, 4:5:6, etc. It has a Wilson height of 14. In comparison, 13/6 does not have quite as many simple-subset triads and tetrads that it can fit into, and has a Wilson height of 18 (which is not that much worse).


The common theme in #1, #3, and #4, on a mathematical level, is that the sopf function measures in some sense "how composite" a number, ratio, or chord is. This property is what makes it useful in indirectly measuring the subsets of the chord. Note that #2 is also a useful property that seems unrelated to this.
The common theme in #1, #3, and #4, on a mathematical level, is that the sopfr function measures in some sense "how composite" a number, ratio, or chord is. This property is what makes it useful in indirectly measuring the subsets of the chord. Note that #2 is also a useful property that seems unrelated to this.


== L1 Norm on Monzos ==
== L1 Norm on Monzos ==
Line 33: Line 33:
The Wilson height has a nice, simple definition as a norm on monzos, which we can call the '''Wilson norm'''. It is given by
The Wilson height has a nice, simple definition as a norm on monzos, which we can call the '''Wilson norm'''. It is given by


<math>\| |e_2 \, e_3 \dotso e_p \rangle \|_{\text{Wil}} = |e_2| + 3\cdot|e_3| 3 + \dotso + p\cdot|e_p| = \text{sopf}(2^{|e_2|} \cdot 3^{|e_3|} \cdot \dotso \cdot p^{|e_p|})</math>
<math>\| |e_2 \, e_3 \dotso e_p \rangle \|_{\text{Wil}} = |e_2| + 3\cdot|e_3| 3 + \dotso + p\cdot|e_p| = \text{sopfr}(2^{|e_2|} \cdot 3^{|e_3|} \cdot \dotso \cdot p^{|e_p|})</math>


which is almost exactly the same as the Tenney height, except that the weighting on each prime is simply <math>p</math> instead of <math>\log(p)</math>. Like the Tenney height, it is a scaled <math>\ell_1</math> norm. Similarly, we get a dual norm on vals, which is an <math>\ell_\infty</math> norm, and where each prime is weighted by <math>1/p</math>. Both of these norms can be extended to the exterior algebra, so that we can use it as a measure of the complexity of a temperament.
which is almost exactly the same as the Tenney height, except that the weighting on each prime is simply <math>p</math> instead of <math>\log(p)</math>. Like the Tenney height, it is a scaled <math>\ell_1</math> norm. Similarly, we get a dual norm on vals, which is an <math>\ell_\infty</math> norm, and where each prime is weighted by <math>1/p</math>. Both of these norms can be extended to the exterior algebra, so that we can use it as a measure of the complexity of a temperament.