Tracks
/
Scheme
Scheme
/
Exercises
/
Perfect Numbers
Perfect Numbers

Perfect Numbers

Medium

Instructions

Determine if a number is perfect, abundant, or deficient based on Nicomachus' (60 - 120 CE) classification scheme for positive integers.

The Greek mathematician Nicomachus devised a classification scheme for positive integers, identifying each as belonging uniquely to the categories of perfect, abundant, or deficient based on their aliquot sum. The aliquot sum is defined as the sum of the factors of a number not including the number itself. For example, the aliquot sum of 15 is 1 + 3 + 5 = 9.

  • Perfect: aliquot sum = number
    • 6 is a perfect number because (1 + 2 + 3) = 6
    • 28 is a perfect number because (1 + 2 + 4 + 7 + 14) = 28
  • Abundant: aliquot sum > number
    • 12 is an abundant number because (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 6) = 16
    • 24 is an abundant number because (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 12) = 36
  • Deficient: aliquot sum < number
    • 8 is a deficient number because (1 + 2 + 4) = 7
    • Prime numbers are deficient

Implement a way to determine whether a given number is perfect. Depending on your language track, you may also need to implement a way to determine whether a given number is abundant or deficient.

Running and testing your solutions

From the command line

Simply type make chez if you're using ChezScheme or make guile if you're using GNU Guile. Sometimes the name for the scheme binary on your system will differ from the defaults. When this is the case, you'll need to tell make by running make chez chez=your-chez-binary or make guile guile=your-guile-binary.

From a REPL

  • Enter (load "test.scm") at the repl prompt.
  • Develop your solution in perfect-numbers.scm reloading as you go.
  • Run (test) to check your solution.

Failed Test Cases

If some of the test cases fail, you should see the failing input and the expected output. The failing input is presented as a list because the tests call your solution by (apply perfect-numbers input-list). To learn more about apply see The Scheme Programming Language -- Chapter 5

Edit via GitHub The link opens in a new window or tab
Scheme Exercism

Ready to start Perfect Numbers?

Sign up to Exercism to learn and master Scheme with 39 exercises, and real human mentoring, all for free.