Some continued fractions of the Rogers-Ramanujan type

The author proves that the continued fraction \((\vert x\vert<1)\) \[ F(a,x) = 1 + ax + \frac{ax^2}{1+ax^3 +}\cdots \frac{ax^{2n}}{1+ax^{2n+1}+}\cdots \] converges to \(P(a,x)/P(ax^2,x)\) with \(P(a,x) = \displaystyle\lim_{n\to\infty} P_n(a,x)\), where \[ P_{n+1}(a,x) = (1 + ax) P_n(ax^2,x) + ax^2P_{n-1}(ax^4,x), \] and he gives a power series expansion for \(P(a,x)\). The result includes several evaluations hinted at by Ramanujan. Moreover, using two identities of L. J. Slater, he is able to prove that \[ F(1,x) = \prod_{n=1}^\infty \frac{(1- x^{8n - 5})(1 - x^{8n - 3})}{(1 - x^{8n - 7})(1 - x^{8n - 1})}. \] Some analogues to \(F(a,x)\) are also studied, with similar results. Particular mention must be made of the theorem that the partitions \(n = n_1 + n_2 +\ldots + n_k\) satisfying \(n_1 >n_2 \ge n_3 > n_4 \ge \ldots\) are equinumerous with those whose parts are either odd or \(\equiv\pm 4\pmod{20}\). This complements Euler's theorem that the partitions of any natural number into distinct parts are equinumerous with those into odd parts.

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