Proof of a conjecture involving derangements and roots of unity (Q2699649)

Summary: Let \(n>1\) be an odd integer, and let \(\zeta\) be a primitive \(n\) th root of unity in the complex field. Via the eigenvector-eigenvalue identity, we show that \[ \sum_{\tau\in D(n-1)}\,\,\mathrm{sign}(\tau)\prod_{j=1}^{n-1}\frac{1+\zeta^{j-\tau(j)}}{1-\zeta^{j-\tau(j)}}=(-1)^{\frac{n-1}{2}}\frac{((n-2)!!)^2}{n}, \] where \(D(n-1)\) is the set of all derangements of \(1, \ldots, n-1\). This confirms a previous conjecture of \textit{Z.-W. Sun} [New conjectures in number theory and combinatorics (in Chinese). Harbin: Institute of Technology Press (2021)]. Moreover, for each \(\delta=0,1\) we determine the value of \(\det[x+m_{jk}]_{1\leqslant j,k\leqslant n-1}\) completely, where \[ m_{jk}=\begin{cases}(1+\zeta^{j-k})/(1-\zeta^{j-k})&\text{ if } j\not=k,\\ \delta&\text{ if }j=k. \end{cases} \]