On odd points and the volume of lattice polyhedra (Q1581014)

A lattice polyhedron is one whose vertices lie on points in the integer lattice \(Z^3\). This article gives several formulae for the volume of a lattice polyhedron. The formulae are given solely in terms of numbers of odd rational points in the interior of the polyhedron, and in the interior of the facets of the polyhedron. More specifically, fix \(n\), and let \(Z_n^3\) be the points \(x\) such that \(nx\in Z^3\). These are called rational points. A rational point is odd if \(nx \in (1,1,1)+2Z^3\). For a given polyhedron \(P\), let \(i_n=i_n(P)\) be the number of odd rational points on its interior, and \(b_n=b_n(P)\) the number on the interiors of its facets. Theorem 1 of the paper gives a formula for the volume \(V(P)\) for \(P\) in terms of \(i_n\), \(i_m\), \(b_n\) and \(b_m\), where \(n\) and \(m\) are distinct even integers. Theorems 2 and 3 state that \(i_n\), \(g_n=i_n+b_n\) and \(d_n=i_n+{1\over 2}b_n\) are polynomials in \(n\). This statement is not correct. The theorems should be corrected to state that ``If \(n\) is even, \(i_n\) is a polynomial\dots and likewise if \(n\) is odd, \(i_n\) is a different polynomial\dots '' etc. The author of the article evidently knows that odd and even \(n\) require different polynomials -- otherwise the statements he makes about the constant terms of the polynomials do not make sense. Presumably his failure to mention it was an unfortunate oversight. Readers of the article should keep this oversight in mind -- it will save a great deal of confusion. Corollary 1 of Theorem 2 remains correct, and gives the remarkable simple formulae \(6V(P) = g_6-3g_4+3g_2 = i_6-3i_4+3i_2\).