A reciprocity theorem for certain q-series found in Ramanujan's lost notebook

Abstract

Three proofs are given for a reciprocity theorem for a certain q-series found in Ramanujan's lost notebook. The first proof uses Ramanujan's 1ψ1 summation theorem, the second employs an identity of N. J. Fine, and the third is combinatorial. Next, we show that the reciprocity theorem leads to a two variable generalization of the quintuple product identity. The paper concludes with an application to sums of three squares. © 2006 Springer Science + Business Media, LLC.