Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: For a finite sequence of positive integers $\boldsymbol{a}=(a_1,\dots,a_n)$, the restricted partition function $q_{\boldsymbol{a}}(k)$ denote the number of nonnegative integer solutions to the equation $a_1x_1+a_2x_2+\cdots +a_nx_n=k$. It is proved to be a quasi-polynomial of degree $n-1$. Write $q_{\boldsymbol{a}}(k)=\sum_{j=0}^{n-1}c_j(k)k^j$ with periodic coefficient functions $c_j$, and set $b_m=\#\{i:m\mid a_i\}$. In 2008, Beck, Sam, and Woods conjectured that the minimum period of $c_j(k)$ is $\mathrm{lcm}\{m:b_m>j\}$. In this paper, we derive an exact root-of-unity formula for every coefficient function $c_j(k)$. The formula proves the conjectured divisibility upper bound, but it also reveals a lower bound for the period of $c_j(k)$. Both divisibility bounds are sharp. This leads us to construct a family of counterexamples to this conjecture.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Liu, Feihu, Tang, Jinlong, Xin, Guoce, Zhang, Chen
Institutions: Capital Normal University, Nankai University
Language: English
Subfield: Algebra and Number Theory
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Award: G7799225896
OpenAlex ID: W7172394542