On certain approximate functional equations that are related to the Gauss transformation (Q2420603)

The authors study the sets of convergence pints of two series. The first is due to \textit{S. D. Chowla} [Math. Z. 33, 544--563 (1931; Zbl 0001.32501; JFM 57.0237.01)] \[ \varphi_1(x)=\sum_{n\geq 1}\,\frac{B_1(nx)}{n}, \] and the second to \textit{J. R. Wilton} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 169, 219--237 (1933; Zbl 0007.05604; JFM 59.0219.01)] \[ \mathcal{W}(x)=\sum_{k\geq 0}\,(-1)^k\beta_{k-1}(x)\log{(1/\alpha_k(x))}. \] The fact that the first series converges if and only if the second does, has been proved by \textit{R. de la Bretèche} and \textit{G. Tenenbaum} [J. Anal. Math. 92, 1--79 (2004; Zbl 1171.11319)] and independently by \textit{K. I. Oskolkov} [Proc. Steklov Inst. Math. 248, 197--215 (2005; Zbl 1126.40001); translation from Tr. Mat. Inst. Steklova 248, 204--222 (2005)]. Here \[ B_1(x)=\begin{cases}\{x\}-1/2 & x\not\in\mathbb{Z}\\ 0 & x\in\mathbb{Z},\end{cases} \] and \[ \alpha(x)=\{1/x\}\ (0<x<1),\ \alpha_0(x)=x,\ \alpha_k(x)=\alpha(\alpha_{k-1}(x))\ (k\geq 1), \] \[ \beta_k(x)=\alpha_0(x)\alpha_1(x)\cdots \alpha_k(x),\ \beta_{-1}=0. \] (\(\{x\}\) is the fractional part of \(x\in\mathbb{R})\). The authors now show that this equality can also be proved in following a method introduced by \textit{G. H. Hardy} and \textit{J. E. Littlewood} [Acta Math. 37, 155--191, 193--239 (1914; JFM 45.0305.03)]. Moreover, the method of the approximate functional equation leads to the new result: Theorem. The function \(G=\varphi_1+\frac{1}{2}\mathcal{W}\) can be continued to be a function of period 1, bounded, continuous in every irrational number and having a discontinuity of the first kind in every rational point. The layout of the paper is as follows: \begin{itemize} \item[{\S1.}] Introduction (2,5 pages) \item[{\S2.}] Continued fractions (2,5 pages) \item[{\S3.}] Historical overview of the method of approximate functional equations (2,5 pages) \item[{\S4.}] A convergence criterion for the solutions of certain approximate functional equations (7,5 pages) \item[{\S5.}] The method applied to the series of Chowla and Wilson (3,5 pages) \item[{\S6.}] Other applications (3 pages) \item[] This concerns the series \[ \sum_{n\geq 1}\,\frac{\tau(n)}{n}\sin{(2\pi nx)},\ \sum_{n\geq 1}\,\frac{\tau(n)}{n}\cos{(2\pi nx)} \text{ and }\sum_{n\geq 1}\, \frac{\sin{(2\pi n^2x)}\cot{(\pi nx)}}{n^2}. \] \item[] References (29 items) \end{itemize}