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Critical line

Analysis

The vertical line in the complex plane consisting of numbers with real part 1/2, on which the Riemann hypothesis asserts all nontrivial zeta zeros lie.

What is usually left out

It is distinguished by the functional equation, which relates ζ(s) to ζ(1 − s) and so reflects the plane about this line. Hardy proved in 1914 that infinitely many zeros lie on it; that is compatible with infinitely many lying off it, which is why the result does not settle the hypothesis.

Related terms

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