Parameter augmentation for basic hypergeometric series. I (Q4400925)

Let \(E(z)= (-z; q)_\infty\) be the \(q\)-exponential function; the authors define the operator \(E(b\theta)\), where \(\theta f(a)= [f(aq^{-1})- f(a)]/(aq^{-1})\); they prove that \(E(b\theta)[(at; q)_\infty]= (at, bt; q)_\infty\), and that \(E(b\theta)[(as, at; q)_\infty]= (as, at, bs, bt; q)_\infty/(abst/q; q)_\infty\). They call these properties ``parameter augmentation''. They use parameter augmentation to prove formulaes on \(q\)-hypergeometric functions and \(q\)-integrals. For example, they prove Rogers identity, which contains three parameters, from a special case containing only one parameter. Many other examples are given. For a general method for proving identities on hypergeometric and \(q\)-hypergeometric functions, see \textit{H. S. Wilf} and \textit{D. Zeilberger} [Invent. Math. 108, 575--634 (1992; Zbl 0739.05007)]. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0890.00032].