Discriminant function and paritition function - modular forms - algebra really

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The discussion focuses on proving the relationship between the discriminant function Δ(q) and the partition function p(n). It begins with the expression for Δ(q) and attempts to manipulate it using Euler's identity to express the partition function. Participants explore the implications of raising the partition function to the 24th power and the potential need for negative powers. The conversation also touches on the definitions of Dedekind's η-function and Ramanujan's τ-function, highlighting their connections to modular forms. Overall, the thread emphasizes the complexities of relating these mathematical functions and the challenges faced in the proof process.
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Homework Statement



I am wanting to show that ##\Delta (t) = 1/q (\sum\limits^{\infty}_{n=0} p(n)q^{n})^{24} ##

where ##\Delta (q) = q \Pi^{\infty}_{n=1} (1-q^{n})^{24} ## is the discriminant function
and ##p(n)## is the partition function,

Homework Equations



Euler's result that : ## \sum\limits^{\infty}_{n=0} p(n)q^{n} = \Pi^{\infty}_{n=1} (1-q^{n})^{-1} ##

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
To be honest , I'm probably doing something really stupid, but at first sight, I would have thought we need
## \sum\limits^{\infty}_{n=0} p(n)q^{n} ## raised to a negative power, as raising to ##+24## looks like your going to get something like ##(1-q^{n})^{-24}##...

I've had a little play and get the following...

## \Delta (q) = q \Pi^{\infty}_{n=1} (1-q^{n})^{24} = \frac{q \Pi^{\infty}_{n=1}(1-q^{n})^{25}}{\Pi^{\infty}_{n=1}(1-q^{n}})=(\Pi^{\infty}_{n=1} (1-q^{n})^{25}) q \sum\limits^{\infty}_{n=1} p(n) q^{n} ##

(don't know whether it's in the right direction or where to turn next..)

Many thanks in advance.
 
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Have you tried to use Euler's formula to write ##\Delta(q)^{-1}##?
 
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fresh_42 said:
Have you tried to use Euler's formula to write ##\Delta(q)^{-1}##?

erm yeah I get ##1/\Delta = 1/q (\sum\limits^{\infty}_{n=0} p(n)q^{n} ) ^{24} ## ..
 
bump.
 
binbagsss said:
erm yeah I get ##1/\Delta = 1/q (\sum\limits^{\infty}_{n=0} p(n)q^{n} ) ^{24} ## ..
am i missing some properties of partition function or anything?
 
Let me list what I've found out, and what not.

We first have Dedekind's ##\eta-##function defined by ##\eta(z)=q^{\frac{1}{24}}\cdot \prod_{n \geq 1} (1-q^n)## where ##q=\exp(2 \pi i z )## and ##\mathcal{Im}(z) > 0##. This defines our modular discriminant by ##\Delta(z)=c\cdot \eta^{24}(z)## with ##c := (2\pi)^{12}##. So this results in
$$ \Delta(z) = c\cdot \eta^{24}(z) = c\cdot q \cdot \prod_{n \geq 1}(1-q^n)^{24}\; , \;\left(c := (2\pi)^{12}\; , \;q=\exp(2\pi i z)\; , \;\mathcal{Im}(z) > 0\right)$$
Then we have Ramanujan's ##\tau-##function ##\tau: \mathbb{N}\rightarrow\mathbb{Z}## defined by
$$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\tau(n)q^n=q\cdot \prod_{n \geq 1}(1-q^n)^{24} = \eta(z)^{24} = c^{-1} \Delta(z)$$.

Euler's identity is ##\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}p(k)x^k = \prod_{n \geq 1}(1-x^n)^{-1}## with the partition function ##p(k): \mathbb{N}\rightarrow\mathbb{N}##.

Unfortunately, I haven't found (or dug any deeper if you like) whether Euler's identity holds for our special choice ##x=q## with positive imaginary part of ##z##. Also the sums aren't over the same range ##(k \geq 0\; , \;n\geq 1)## and involve two different functions ##\tau## and ##p##. But I'm no specialist in number theory (and have only a book with basics).
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

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