An expression for primes and its application to \(K_2\mathbb Q\) (Q714114)

The authors use elementary arguments to prove the following interesting number-theoretic theorem: If \(p\) is a prime congruent to 1 modulo 8 then there exists \(n\geq 1\) and integers \(a_i\), \(b_i\), \(c_i\), \(d_i\), \(i= 1,\dots, n\) such that \[ p= \prod^n_{i=1} {a^4_1+ b^4_1\over c^4_i+ d^4_i}. \] The authors then combine this result with calculations with symbols to deduce that the group of elements of order dividing 8 in \(K_2(\mathbb{Q})\) is generated by elements of the form \(\{a,\Phi_n(a)\}\), \(n= 2,4,8\) (where \(\Phi_n(x)\) denotes the \(n\)th cyclotomic polynomial).