Partition-theoretic interpretations of certain modular equations of Schröter, Russell, and Rama\-nujan (Q2385098)

Let \(S\) denote the set consisting of one copy of the positive integers and one additional copy of those positive integers that are multiples of 7. Then for each positive integer \(k\), the number of partitions of \(2k\) into even elements of \(S\) is equal to the number of partitions of \(2k+ 1\) into odd elements of \(S\). This elegant theorem follows from a \(q\)-series identity which in turn is equivalent to a modular equation of degree 7 that was discovered by S. Ramanujan. Along with this he found four other modular equations of degree 3, 5, 11, and 23 which similarly yield corresponding partition theorems. The author supplies a detailed and necessarily somewhat convoluted history of these discoveries, along with a few extensions to related results. He expresses disappointment that simple combinatorial proofs had not been found. Added in proof is notice that S. Kim has subsequently provided bijective proofs of some of the results.