Product formula for the (p,q,h)(p,q,h)-deformed binomial coefficients

From papers

Let mm and kk be nonnegative integers, let pp and qq be parameters, and let ZpZ_p be the generator appearing in the (p,q)(p,q)-deformed generalized Weyl algebra. Write [i]p,q[i]_{p,q} for the (p,q)(p,q)-integer and (mk)p,q\binom{m}{k}_{p,q} for the (p,q)(p,q)-binomial coefficient. The (p,q,h)(p,q,h)-deformed binomial coefficient is denoted by (mk)hp;q(Zp)\binom{m}{k}_{h|p;q}(Z_p). Product formula. The (p,q,h)(p,q,h)-deformed binomial coefficients can be written as

(mk)hp;q(Zp)=(mk)p,qi=0k1(1+hpk[i]p,qZp).\binom{m}{k}_{h|p;q}(Z_p)=\binom{m}{k}_{p,q}\prod_{i=0}^{k-1}(1+hp^{-k}[i]_{p,q}Z_p).

This is a product expansion obtained by combining the deformed binomial coefficients with the associated (p,q)(p,q)-deformed cycle numbers; the source does not indicate an unresolved status or provide further qualification of the result.

Progress summary

Open

The formula appears only as a conjecture, and no public proof or disproof was found.

The proposed product expansion concerns the coefficients in the normal-ordering formula for powers of X+YX+Y in a (p,q)(p,q)-deformed generalized Weyl algebra. The directly relevant paper presents it as Conjecture 3.373.37, not as an established theorem.

July 2026 status

The paper relates the conjecture to identities involving the associated cycle numbers and elementary-symmetric-function coefficients, but supplies no proof. The retrieved record contains no verified counterexample, correction, withdrawal, or independent verification.

Current status (as of August 2026): The product formula remains an open conjecture, with neither a proof nor a verified disproof publicly recorded.

Sources
Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Toufik Mansour, Lahcen Oussi and Matthias Schork, “Normal ordering in the (p,q)-deformed generalized Weyl algebra. III: The binomial formula”, arXiv:2607.11693 (2026).

Solutions 1

Counterexample

Degree-two counterexample

The proposed product formula fails already for m=2m=2 and k=1k=1.

The defining relations for the (p,q)(p,q)-deformed Jordan plane include

XY=qYX+hY2Zp,ZpY=pYZp.XY=qYX+hY^2Z_p, \qquad Z_pY=pYZ_p.

Therefore

(X+Y)2=X2+XY+YX+Y2=X2+(1+q)YX+Y2+hY2Zp=X2+(1+q)YX+(1+hp2Zp)Y2,\begin{aligned} (X+Y)^2 &=X^2+XY+YX+Y^2\\ &=X^2+(1+q)YX+Y^2+hY^2Z_p\\ &=X^2+(1+q)YX+(1+hp^{-2}Z_p)Y^2, \end{aligned}

where Y2Zp=p2ZpY2Y^2Z_p=p^{-2}Z_pY^2 was used in the last line. Hence the actual coefficient of YXYX is

(21)hp;q(Zp)=1+q.\binom21_{h|p;q}(Z_p)=1+q.

On the other hand, Conjecture 3.37 in the source predicts, for k=1k=1,

(21)hp;q(Zp)=(21)p,qi=00(1+hp1[i]p,qZp)=(21)p,q=[2]p,q=p+q,\begin{aligned} \binom21_{h|p;q}(Z_p) &=\binom21_{p,q} \prod_{i=0}^{0}\left(1+hp^{-1}[i]_{p,q}Z_p\right)\\ &=\binom21_{p,q} =[2]_{p,q} =p+q, \end{aligned}

because [0]p,q=0[0]_{p,q}=0.

Taking p=2p=2, q=3q=3, and h=1h=1, which lies in the source's generic regime, gives

1+q=4butp+q=5.1+q=4 \qquad\text{but}\qquad p+q=5.

Thus the proposed product formula is false.

The discrepancy is structural: the constant term of the actual normal-order coefficient satisfies

cm+1,k=qkcm,k+cm,k1,c0,0=1,c_{m+1,k}=q^k c_{m,k}+c_{m,k-1}, \qquad c_{0,0}=1,

and is therefore the Gaussian coefficient (mk)q\binom{m}{k}_q, whereas the conjectured product has constant term (mk)p,q\binom{m}{k}_{p,q}.

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Samuel Schlesinger ·