Sums of three squares and \(q\)-series (Q687524)

The identities \[ \left(\sum_{n=1}^ \infty q^{\binom n2}\right)^ 3=\sum_{k,l,m\geq 0}^{}q^{2(kl+ lm+ mk)}(q^{k+ l+m}+ q^{3(k+l+ m+1)}) \] and \[ \left(\sum_{n=-\infty}^ \infty(-q)^{n^ 2}\right)^ 3= 1-6\sum_{k,l>0}^{}(-1)^{k+ l}q^{kl}- 4\sum_{k,l,m>0}^{}(-1)^{k+l +m}q^{kl+ lm+ mk} \] are proven by elementary manipulations of \(q\)-series. These two identities appeared earlier in papers by \textit{G. E. Andrews} [J. Number Theory 23,285-293 (1986; Zbl 0586.10007); Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 293, 113-134 (1986; Zbl 0593.10018)]. However, the proofs in the paper under review seem to be shorter. The author finally applies the identities to rederive two classical theorems from number theory concerning the representation of natural numbers as sums of three squares, due to Legendre and Gauß, respectively.