A note on inversions and generalized Dedekind sums (Q1216331)

The Dedekind sum \(s(h,k)\) is defined by \[ s(h,k) = \sum_{r\pmod k} \left(\left(\frac{r}{k}\right)\right) \left(\left(\frac{hr}{k}\right)\right), \] where \(((x)) = x - [x] -\tfrac12\) \((x \ne \) integer); \(=0\) \((x = \) integer). Assume \((h,k) = 1\) and let \(\lambda_f\) denote the least positive residue of \(hr\pmod k\). Let \(I(h,k)\) denote the number of inversions in the sequence that is, the number of times a larger entry precedes a smaller one. \textit{C. Meyer} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 198, 143--203 (1957; Zbl 0079.10303)]; see also \textit{H. Rademacher} and \textit{E. Grosswald} [Dedekind sums. Carus Math. Monographs No. 16. Washington, D. C.: The Mathematical Association of America (1972; Zbl 0251.10020), p. 35] proved that \[ I(h,k) = -3ks(h,k) + \tfrac14(k - 1)(k - 2). \tag{*} \] Hence, by the reciprocity theorem for \(s(h,k)\), \[ hI(h,k)+ kI(k,h) = \tfrac14 (h-1)(k-1)(h+k-1). \tag{**} \] The reviewer [Abh. Math. Sem. Univ. Hamb. 42, 41--52 (1974; Zbl 0292.10007)] extended the notion of inversion and obtained results corresponding to (*) and (**). In the present paper this extension is further generalized. Define an inversion as a pair \((r_1, \ldots, r_n)\), \((s_1, \ldots, s_n)\) such that \(1\le s_i \le r_i <k\), \(1 \le i\le n\), and \(\lambda_{r_1, \ldots, r_n} < \lambda_{s_1, \ldots, s_n}\), where \(\lambda_{r_1, \ldots, r_n}\) denotes the least non-negative residue of \(\sum_{i=1}^n h_ir_i \pmod k\) and where \(h_1,\ldots, h_n, k\) are relatively prime in pairs. Let \(I(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k)\) denote the number of these inversions. For \(n=2\) this reduces to the reviewer's definition. The author proves first that \[ \begin{aligned} I(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k) &= (1 - 2(-1)^n)S(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k) \\ &+ \frac1{3.2^n} (1-2(-1)^n)(1-2k)k^{n-1}(k-1)^n+ \sum_{i=1}^n h_i \\ &+ \frac1{2^{n+1}}k^{n-1}(k-1)\{(k+1)^n + (1-2(-1)^n)(k-1)^n\}, \end{aligned} \] where \[ S(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k) = \sum_{r_1, \ldots, r_n=0}^{k-1} r_1\cdots r_n \frac{h_1r_1+\cdots h_nr_n}{k}. \] Next let \(f(r,k) = \frac{r}{k} - \left[\frac{r}{k}\right] - \frac12 + \frac1{2k}\) \((k\ge 1)\) and define \[ s(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k) = \sum_{r_i\pmod k} f(r_1,k)\cdots (f(r_n,k) f(h_1r_1+\cdots h_nr_n). \] The reviewer [Duke Math. J. 21, 399--403 (1954; Zbl 0057.03802)] obtained \(n+1\) and \(n+2\)-relations for \(s(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k)\). The author (Th. 1) shows that \(S(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k)\) can be expressed in terms of \(s(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k)\) and therefore \(I(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k)\) can also be expressed in a similar way. She also obtains \(n+1\) term relations for \(S(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k)\) and \(I(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k)\) by applying the \(n+1\) term relations for \(s(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k)\). The \(n+1\) term relation for \(S(h_1,\ldots, h_n;k)\) extends (**).