Remark on certain sums concerning class number (Q5956163): Difference between revisions

Let \(p\) and \(q\) be odd primes, \(q \equiv -1\pmod p\), and let \(h_q^+\) denote the class number of the maximal real subfield of the \(q\)th cyclotomic field. In an earlier work [e.g., Math. Comput. 67, 369-398 (1998; Zbl 0914.11057)] the author obtained a relationship between the \(p\)-divisibility of \(h_q^+\) and of certain sums \(S_j\) of inverses of rational integers (\(j=2,4,\dots,2q-2\)). In this article he proves that the particular number \(S_{p-1}\) vanishes mod \(p\) whenever \(p>3\). The proof consists of ingenious manipulations of expressions involving Bernoulli numbers and polynomials, both ordinary and of higher order. A previous computational work by the author and \textit{P. Trojovský} [Abh. Math. Semin. Univ. Hamb. 67, 269-280 (1997; Zbl 0895.11044)] showed that \(S_{p-1}\equiv 0\pmod p\) for \(3<p<5000\).