q-series, elliptic curves, and odd values of the partition function

Let p(n) be the number of partitions of an integer n. Euler proved the following recurrence for p(n): p(n)=∑k=1∞(−1)k+1(p(n−ω(k))+p(n−ω(−k))),                                        (*) where ω(k)=(3k 2+k)/2. In view of Euler's result, one sees that it is fairly easy to compute p(n) very quickl...

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Main Author: Nicholas Eriksson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1999-01-01
Series:International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/S0161171299220558
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author Nicholas Eriksson
author_facet Nicholas Eriksson
author_sort Nicholas Eriksson
collection DOAJ
description Let p(n) be the number of partitions of an integer n. Euler proved the following recurrence for p(n): p(n)=∑k=1∞(−1)k+1(p(n−ω(k))+p(n−ω(−k))),                                        (*) where ω(k)=(3k 2+k)/2. In view of Euler's result, one sees that it is fairly easy to compute p(n) very quickly. However, many questions remain open even regarding the parity of p(n). In this paper, we use various facts about elliptic curves and q-series to construct, for every i≥1, finite sets Mi for which p(n) is odd for an odd number of n∈Mi.
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publishDate 1999-01-01
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series International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences
spelling doaj-art-5264d5bb4490487c885940f805e552d32025-08-20T03:36:31ZengWileyInternational Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences0161-17121687-04251999-01-01221556510.1155/S0161171299220558q-series, elliptic curves, and odd values of the partition functionNicholas Eriksson02401 S. Hills Dr., Missoula, MT 59803, USALet p(n) be the number of partitions of an integer n. Euler proved the following recurrence for p(n): p(n)=∑k=1∞(−1)k+1(p(n−ω(k))+p(n−ω(−k))),                                        (*) where ω(k)=(3k 2+k)/2. In view of Euler's result, one sees that it is fairly easy to compute p(n) very quickly. However, many questions remain open even regarding the parity of p(n). In this paper, we use various facts about elliptic curves and q-series to construct, for every i≥1, finite sets Mi for which p(n) is odd for an odd number of n∈Mi.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/S0161171299220558
spellingShingle Nicholas Eriksson
q-series, elliptic curves, and odd values of the partition function
International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences
title q-series, elliptic curves, and odd values of the partition function
title_full q-series, elliptic curves, and odd values of the partition function
title_fullStr q-series, elliptic curves, and odd values of the partition function
title_full_unstemmed q-series, elliptic curves, and odd values of the partition function
title_short q-series, elliptic curves, and odd values of the partition function
title_sort q series elliptic curves and odd values of the partition function
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/S0161171299220558
work_keys_str_mv AT nicholaseriksson qseriesellipticcurvesandoddvaluesofthepartitionfunction