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In this note the arithmetic functions L(n) and w(n) denote respectively the number and product of the distinct prime divisors of the integer n ≥ 1, and L(l) = 0, w(l) = 1. An arithmetic function f is called multiplicative if f(1) = 1 and f(mn) = f(m)f(n) whenever (m, n) = 1. It is known ([1], [3], [4]) that every multiplicative function f satisfies the identity1.1

Throughout this paper the arithmetic functions L(n) and w(n) denote respectively the number and product of the distinct prime divisors of the integer n > 1, with L(1) = 0 and w(1) = 1. Also letWe recall that an arithmetic function f(n) is said to be multiplicative if f(1) = 1 and f(mn) = f(m)f(n) whenever (m, n) = 1, where (m, n) denotes as usual the greatest common divisor of m and n.

In 1929, in the course of proving certain results stated by Ramanujan concerning his continued fraction, G. N. Watson proved an identity involving five infinite products and an infinite series. In 1938, Watson proved another identity which again involved five products. Finally in 1961, one more quintuple product identity was established, this time by Basil Gordon. We show here that all these identities are equivalent. Also, with the help of the quintuple product identity and Jacobi’s triple product identity, we establish two new identities involving only series.

This note proves (in the theorem below) a conjecture made by the author last year through the pages of the Departmental Problem Book. This arose in connection with some other investigations of arithmetic functions.

There is considerable literature concerning the century old result that for arbitrary positive integers a and m, 1.1 where μ(m) is the usual Mobius function. For earlier work on this we refer to L.E. Dickson [4, pp. 84–86] and L. Carlitz [1,2]. Another reference not noted by the above authors is R. Vaidyanathaswamy [6], who noted that the left member of (1.1) represents the number of special fixed points of the m th power of a rational transformation of the n th degree.

Arithmetic sums of the formwhere f is an arithmetic function and [ ] is the greatest integer function frequently occur in various situations in the theory of numbers and have much of interest in their own right. Two instances appear in the well-known results.

(1963). A Generating Function for a Class of Arithmetic Functions. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 70, No. 8, pp. 841-842.