Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4647433 | Discrete Mathematics | 2014 | 9 Pages |
Abstract
Liouville gave formulas for the number of representations of a positive integer by the quaternary quadratic forms x2+y2+2z2+2t2x2+y2+2z2+2t2, x2+y2+z2+4t2x2+y2+z2+4t2, x2+y2+4z2+4t2x2+y2+4z2+4t2, x2+4y2+4z2+4t2x2+4y2+4z2+4t2 and x2+2y2+2z2+4t2x2+2y2+2z2+4t2. These formulas have been proved by a number of authors by a variety of non-elementary methods. We give combinatorial proofs of these formulas by deducing them from Jacobi’s four squares theorem and Legendre’s four triangular numbers theorem. Since these latter two theorems have both been proved in an elementary arithmetic way, the five formulas of Liouville are therefore proved in a completely elementary way.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Mathematics
Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics
Authors
Olivia X.M. Yao, Ernest X.W. Xia,