has only been done in the cases when ποΌ2, 3 (the latter by Smith in Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. ix. p. 242).
For moderate values of π« the difficulty can generally be removed by constructing algebraic functions of π. Suppose we have an irreducible equation
π₯ποΌπβπ₯ποΌ1οΌ . . . οΌπποΌ0,
the coefficients of which are rational functions of π(π). If we apply any modular substitution πβ²οΌπ²(π), this leaves the equation unaltered, and consequently only permutates the roots among themselves: thus if π₯β(π) is any definite root we shall have π₯β(πβ²)οΌπ₯π(π), where π may or may not be equal to 1. The group of unitary
substitutions which leave all the roots unaltered is a factor of the complete modular group. If we put π¦οΌπ₯(ππ), π¦ will satisfy an equation
similar to that which defines π₯, with πβ² written for π; hence, since π, πβ² are connected by the equation πβ(π, πβ²)οΌ0, there will be an equation
π(π₯, π¦)οΌ0 satisfied by π₯ and π¦. By suitably choosing π₯ we can in many cases find π(π₯, π¦) without knowing πβ(π, πβ²); and then the
equation π(π₯, π₯)οΌ0 defines a set of singular moduli, each one of which
belongs to a certain value of π and all the quantities derived from it by the substitutions which leave π₯(π) unaltered.
As one of the simplest examples, let ποΌ2, π₯Β³οΌπ(π)οΌπ¦Β³οΌπ(πβ²)οΌ0. Then the equation connecting π₯, π¦ in its complete form is of the ninth degree in each variable; but it can be proved that it has a rational factor, namely
π¦Β³οΌπ₯Β²π¦Β²οΌ495π₯π¦οΌπ₯Β³οΌ2β΄ . 3Β³ . 5Β³οΌ0,
and if in this we put π₯οΌπ¦οΌπ’, the result is
π’β΄οΌ2π’Β³οΌ495π’Β²οΌ2β΄.3Β³.5Β³οΌ0,
the roots of which are 12, 20, οΌ 15, οΌ 15. It remains to find the values of π, to which they belong. Writing πΎβ(π)οΌβπ, it is found
that we may define πΎβ in such a way that πΎβ(ποΌ1)οΌποΌ2ππ/3πΎβ(π), πΎβ(οΌποΌ1)οΌπΎβ(π), whence it is found that
.
We shall therefore have πΎβ(2π)οΌπΎβ(π) for all values of [π?] such that
, πΌπΏοΌπ½πΎοΌ1, πΎπΏοΌπΎπΌοΌπ½πΏοΌπ½πΏπΎΒ²β‘0 (mod 3).
Putting (πΌ, π½, πΎ, πΏ)οΌ(0, οΌ1, 1, 0) the conditions are satisfied, and
2ποΌπβ2. Now π(π)οΌ172πΏ, so that πΎβ(π)οΌ12; and since π(π) is positive for a pure imaginary, πΎβ(πβ2)οΌ20. The remaining case is settled by putting
,
with πΌ, π½, πΎ, πΏ satisfying the same conditions as before. One solution
is (οΌ1, 2, 1, 1) and hence πΒ²οΌ3ποΌ4οΌ0, so that .
Besides πΎβ, other irrational invariants which have been used with effect are πΎβοΌβ(ποΌ172πΏ), the moduli π , π β², their square and fourth roots, the functions π, πβ, πβ defined by
, ,
and the function π(ππ)/π(π) where π(π) is defined by
.
72. Another powerful method, developed by C. F. Klein and K. E. R. Fricke, proceeds by discussing the deficiency of πβ(π, πβ²)οΌ0 considered as representing a curve. If this deficiency is zero, π and πβ² may be expressed as rational functions of the same parameter, and this replaces the modular equation in the most convenient manner. For instance, when ποΌ7, we may put
ποΌ(πΒ²οΌ13ποΌ49)(πΒ²οΌ5ποΌ1)Β³/ποΌπ(π), πβ²οΌπ(πβ²),
ππβ²οΌ49.
The corresponding singular moduli are found by solving π(π)οΌπ(πβ²). For deficiency 1 we may find in a similar way two auxiliary functions π₯, π¦ connected by some simple equation π(π₯, π¦)οΌ0 not exceeding the fourth degree, and such that π, πβ² are each rational functions of π₯ and π¦.
Hurwitz has extended this field of research almost indefinitely, not only by generalising the formulae for class-number sums, such as that in Β§ 69, but also by bringing the modular-function theory into connexion with that of algebraic correspondence and Abelian integrals. A comparatively simple example may help to indicate the nature of these researches. From the formulae given at the beginning of Β§ 67, we can deduce, by actual multiplication of the corresponding series,
οΌπΊπ(π)ππ/4 {ποΌ1, 5, 9, . . .
where
extended over all the representations ποΌπΒ²οΌ4πΒ². In a similar way
1/ππβ²ββπββοΌπββπββΒ² πββοΌ2πΊ(οΌ1)1/4(ποΌ1)π(π)ππ/2
1/ππβ²ββπββοΌπββπββπββΒ² οΌ2πΊ(οΌ1)1/4(ποΌ1)π(π)ππ/4
If, now, we write
,
we shall have
ππβ:ππβ:ππβοΌπββ:πββ:πββ
where πββ, πββ, πββ are connected by the relation (Β§ 67)
πβββ΄οΌπβββ΄οΌπβββ΄οΌ0
which represents, in homogeneous co-ordinates, a quartic curve of
deficiency 3. For this curve, or any equivalent algebraic figure, πβ(π), πβ(π) and πβ(π) supply an independent set of Abelian integrals of the first kind. If we put π₯οΌβπ
, π¦οΌβπ
β², it is found that
,
so that the integrals which the algebraic theory gives in connexion
with π₯β΄οΌπ¦β΄οΌ1οΌ0 are directly identified with πβ(π), πβ(π), πβ(π) provided that we put π₯οΌβπ
(π).
Other functions occur in this theory analogous to πβ(π), but such that in the π-series which are the expansions of them the coefficients and exponents depend on representations of numbers by quaternary quadratic forms.
73. In the Berliner Sitzungsberzchte for the period 1883β1890, L. Kronecker published a very important series of articles on elliptic functions, which contain many arithmetical results of extreme elegance; some of these Kronecker had announced without proof many years before. A few will be quoted here, without any attempt at demonstration; but in order to understand them, it will be necessary to bear in mind two definitions. The first relates to the Legendre-Jacobi symbol . If π, π have a common factor we put ; while if π is odd and ποΌ2βπ, where π is odd, we put . The other definition relates to the classification of discriminants of quadratic forms. If π£ is any number that can be such a discriminant, we must have π£β‘0 or 1 (mod. 4), and in every case we can write π£οΌπ£βπ°Β², where π°Β² is a square factor of π£, and π£β satisfies one of the following conditions, in which π― denotes a product of different odd primes:β
π£β | οΌ | π―, | with | π― | β‘ | 1 (mod 4) | ||||
π£β | οΌ | 4π―, | π― | β‘ | οΌ1 (mod 4) | |||||
π£β | οΌ | 8π―, | π― | β‘ | Β±1 (mod 4) |
Numbers such as π£β are called fundamental discriminants; every
discriminant is uniquely expressible as the product of a fundamental discriminant and a positive integral square.
Now let π£β, π£β be any two discriminants, then π£βπ£β is also a discriminant, and we may put π£βπ£βοΌπ£οΌπ£βπ°Β², where π£β is fundamental: this being done, we shall have
where we are to take β, ποΌ1, 2, 3, . . .οΌβ ; π, ποΌ0, Β±1, Β±2, . . . Β±β except that, if π£οΌ0, the case ποΌποΌ0 is excluded, and that, if π£οΌ0, (2πποΌππ)π³β©Ύππ΄ where (π³, π΄) is the least positive solution of π³Β²οΌπ£π΄Β²οΌ4. The sum applies to a system of representative primitive forms (π, π, π) for the determinant π£, chosen so that π is
prime to π°, and π, π are each divisible by all the prime factors of π°. π is any number prime to 2π£ and representable by (π, π, π); and finally ποΌ2, 4, 6, 1 according as π£οΌοΌ4, π£οΌοΌ4, π£οΌοΌ3 or π£οΌ0. The function π₯ is quite arbitrary, subject only to the conditions that π₯(π₯π¦)οΌπ₯(π₯)π₯(π¦), and that the sums on both sides are convergent. By putting π₯(π₯)οΌπ₯οΌ1οΌπ, where π is a real positive quantity, it
can be deduced from the foregoing that, if π£β is not a square, and if π£β is different from 1,
where the function π§(π) is defined as follows for any discriminant π:β
ποΌοΌπ«οΌ0 | |||
ποΌ0 |