On Somos' dissection identities (Q2267486)

Let \((a;q)_{\infty} := \prod_{n \geq 0} (1-aq^n)\). This paper contains five main theorems, each presenting an identity or identities related to a dissection of \((q;q)_{\infty}\), \((q;q)_{\infty}^3\), or \((q;q)_{\infty}(q^2;q^2)_{\infty}\). By a \(t\)-dissection of the power series \(A = \sum a(n)q^n\) the author means writing \(A = \sum_{i=0}^{t-1} A_i\), where \(A_i = \sum_{n \equiv i \pmod{t}} a(n)q^n\). To illustrate the results we quote Thoerem 1.5: For the \(3\)-dissection of \(A = (q;q)_{\infty}(q^2;q^2)_{\infty}\), we have \[ A_0A_2 + 2A_1^2 = 0 \] and \[ \frac{A_2}{2A_1} = -\frac{A_1}{A_0} = q\frac{(q^3;q^6)_{\infty}}{(q^6;q^{18})_{\infty}^3}. \] The proofs typically use known theta function identities. There is some overlap between this paper and an essay of \textit{M. Somos} [``A multisection of \(q\)-series'', \url{http://cis.csuohio.edu/\(\sim\)somos/multiq.pdf}].