English

On the values of Dedekind sums

Number Theory 2016-10-28 v2

Abstract

Let S(a,b)=12s(a,b)S(a,b)=12s(a,b), where s(a,b)s(a,b) denotes the classical Dedekind sum. For a given denominator qNq\in \mathbb N, we study the numerators kZk\in\mathbb Z of the values k/qk/q, (k,q)=1(k,q)=1, of Dedekind sums S(a,b)S(a,b). Our main result says that if kk is such a numerator, then the whole residue class of kk modulo (q21)q(q^2-1)q consists of numerators of this kind. This fact reduces the task of finding all possible numerators kk to that of finding representatives for finitely many residue classes modulo (q21)q(q^2-1)q. By means of the proof of this result we have determined all possible numerators kk for 2q502\le q\le 50, the case q=1q=1 being trivial. The result of this search suggests a conjecture about all possible values k/qk/q, (k,q)=1(k,q)=1, of Dedekind sums S(a,b)S(a,b) for an arbitrary qNq\in\mathbb N.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1610.05588,
  title  = {On the values of Dedekind sums},
  author = {Kurt Girstmair},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1610.05588},
  year   = {2016}
}