Generalization of the reciprocity formula for Dedekind sums (Q2652085)

Let \(S(a, b)\) denote the Dedekind sum. The author obtains the following reciprocity formula generalizing the usual one. Let \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) be three mutually coprime integers and determine \(a'\), \(b'\) and \(c'\) by \(aa' \equiv 1 \pmod{bc}\), \(bb' \equiv 1 \pmod{ca}\), \(cc' \equiv 1 \pmod{ab}\). Then \[ S(bc', a) S(ca', b) S(ab', c) = -\tfrac14 + \tfrac1{12} (a^2 + b^2 + c^2)/abc. \tag{*} \] This is proved in the following manner: First if \(f(x) = (x^a -1)/x - 1)\), \(g(x) = (x^b - 1)/(x - 1)\), \(h(x) = (x^c - 1)/(x - 1)\) then by using Lagrange's interpolation formula one gets \[ \frac{1 - f(x)g(x)h(x)}{xf(x)g(x)h(x)} = \sum_{a,b,c} \frac1{a} \left(\sum_{\xi\ne 1} \frac{(\xi - 1)^2}{(\xi^b - 1)(\xi^c - 1)(x - \xi)}\right). \] Then using \[ S(b, a)= \frac1{a} \sum_{\xi\ne 1} \sum \frac1{(\xi^b - 1)(\xi - 1)} + \frac{a-1}{4a} \quad\text{(see the review Zbl 0057.03703)} \] and expanding both sides in powers of \(x - 1\) and equating coefficients of \((x - 1)^2\), (*) follows.