A generalization of Newman's formula (Q2481718)

A determinant formula is given for the relative class number of an imaginary abelian number field. This is a generalization of a formula of \textit{M. Newman} [Math. Comput. 24, 215--219 (1970; Zbl 0198.36902)] for prime cyclotomic fields and one of \textit{L. Skula} [Acta Arith. 39, 1--6 (1981; Zbl 0372.12012)] for prime power cyclotomic fields. Neither of these previous articles determined the sign in the formula, but this article does. To compute the entries of the determinant, one must express the Galois group as a quotient group of the multiplicative group \(\mathbb{Z}^*_m\), where \(m\) is the conductor of the field. The entries are then simple congruence sums modulo \(m\). As Corollary to the result, the author gives Skula's formula with the sign determined.