The number of solutions to the alternate matrix equation over a finite field and a \(q\)-identity (Q5934185)

Let \(F_q\) be a finite field with \(q\) elements, where \(q\) is a power of a prime. In this paper, the authors first correct a counting error for the formula \(N(K_{2\nu}, O^{(m)})\) occurring in a paper by \textit{L. Carlitz} [Arch. Math. 5, 19-31 (1954; Zbl 0056.01702)]. Next, using the geometry of the symplectic group over \(F_q\), they give the numbers of solutions \(X\) of rank \(k\) and solutions \(X\) to the equation \(XAX'=B\) over \(F_q\), where \(A\) and \(B\) are alternate matrices of order \(n\), rank \(2\nu\) and order \(m\), rank \(2s\), respectively. Finally, an elementary \(q\)-identity is obtained from \(N(K_{n,2\nu}, O^{(0)}\), and the explicit results for \(N(K_{n,2\nu}, K_{m,2s})\) is represented by terminating \(q\)-hypergeometric series.