A class of finite q-series. III (Q2266799)

In the present sequel to a couple of earlier papers [ibid. (to appear; Zbl 0555.33001 and Zbl 0561.33003)], simple proofs based only upon some rather elementary results are presented for several interesting generalizations (involving series with essentially arbitrary terms) of a number of finite summation formulas for certain classes of hypergeometric functions of one and two variables. Applications of these general summation formulas to various multivariable hypergeometric functions, and their further generalizations (and unifications) and q-extensions, are also considered. The main results and many of their special cases indicated in the paper, and their various multivariable generalizations discussed, are believed to be new. Finally, a number of interesting (known or new) summation formulas are shown to follow readily by further specializing some of these particular cases.