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Landsberg–Schaar relation

Landsberg–Schaar relation is a mathematics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Landsberg–Schaar relation rather than just read about it. In short: In number theory and harmonic analysis, the Landsberg–Schaar relation (or identity) is the following equation, which is valid for arbitrary positive integers p and q: 1 p ∑ n = 0 p − 1 exp ⁡ ( 2 π i n 2 q p ) = e 1 4 π i 2 q ∑ n = 0 2 q − 1 exp ⁡ ( − π i n 2 p 2 q ) . {\displaystyle {\frac {1}{\sqrt {p}}}\sum _{n=0}^{p-1}\exp \left({\frac {2\pi in^{2}q}{p}}\right)={\frac {e^{{\frac {1}{4}}\pi i}}{\sqrt {2q}}}\sum _{…

Key takeaways

  • Landsberg–Schaar relation belongs to mathematics; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Landsberg–Schaar relation to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Landsberg–Schaar relation from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In number theory and harmonic analysis, the Landsberg–Schaar relation (or identity) is the following equation, which is valid for arbitrary positive integers p and q:

1 p ∑ n = 0 p − 1 exp ⁡ ( 2 π i n 2 q p ) = e 1 4 π i 2 q ∑ n = 0 2 q − 1 exp ⁡ ( − π i n 2 p 2 q ) . {\displaystyle {\frac {1}{\sqrt {p}}}\sum _{n=0}^{p-1}\exp \left({\frac {2\pi in^{2}q}{p}}\right)={\frac {e^{{\frac {1}{4}}\pi i}}{\sqrt {2q}}}\sum _{n=0}^{2q-1}\exp \left(-{\frac {\pi in^{2}p}{2q}}\right).}

The standard way to prove it is to put τ = ⁠2iq/p⁠ + ε, where ε > 0 in this identity due to Jacobi (which is essentially just a special case of the Poisson summation formula in classical harmonic analysis):

∑ n = − ∞ + ∞ e − π n 2 τ = 1 τ ∑ n = − ∞ + ∞ e − π n 2 τ {\displaystyle \sum _{n=-\infty }^{+\infty }e^{-\pi n^{2}\tau }={\frac {1}{\sqrt {\tau }}}\sum _{n=-\infty }^{+\infty }e^{-\pi {\frac {n^{2}}{\tau }}}}

and then let ε → 0. A proof using only finite methods was discovered in 2018 by Ben Moore. If we let q = 1, the identity reduces to a formula for the quadratic Gauss sum modulo p. The Landsberg–Schaar identity can be rephrased more symmetrically as

1 p ∑ n = 0 p − 1 exp ⁡ ( π i n 2 q p ) = e 1 4 π i q ∑ n = 0 q − 1 exp ⁡ ( − π i n 2 p q ) {\displaystyle {\frac {1}{\sqrt {p}}}\sum _{n=0}^{p-1}\exp \left({\frac {\pi in^{2}q}{p}}\right)={\frac {e^{{\frac {1}{4}}\pi i}}{\sqrt {q}}}\sum _{n=0}^{q-1}\exp \left(-{\frac {\pi in^{2}p}{q}}\right)}

provided that we add the hypothesis that pq is an even number.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Landsberg–Schaar relation

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Landsberg–Schaar relation claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In mathematics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Landsberg–Schaar relation before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Landsberg–Schaar relation ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Landsberg–Schaar relation

In research
Landsberg–Schaar relation appears in mathematics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Landsberg–Schaar relation in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Landsberg–Schaar relation is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Theorems in analytic number theory, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Landsberg–Schaar relation outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Landsberg–Schaar relation in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Landsberg–Schaar relation means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Landsberg–Schaar relation out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Landsberg–Schaar relation in simple terms?

In number theory and harmonic analysis, the Landsberg–Schaar relation (or identity) is the following equation, which is valid for arbitrary positive integers p and q: 1 p ∑ n = 0 p − 1 exp ⁡ ( 2 π i n 2 q p ) = e 1 4 π i 2 q ∑ n = 0 2 q − 1 exp ⁡ ( − π i n 2 p 2 q ) . {\displaystyle {\frac {1}{\sqr…

Why does Landsberg–Schaar relation matter?

Because it connects several mathematics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Landsberg–Schaar relation?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Landsberg–Schaar relation.

Tags

  • Theorems in analytic number theory

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