INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 RECURRENCE FORMULAE FOR MULTI-POLY-BERNOULLI NUMBERS Y. Hamahata Department of Mathematics, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan hamahata@ma.noda.tus.ac.jp H. Masubuchi Department of Mathematics, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan yoshinori@ma.noda.tus.ac.jp Received: 4/3/07, Revised: 10/10/07, Accepted: 10/15/07, Published: 11/3/07 Abstract In this paper we establish recurrence formulae for multi-poly-Bernoulli numbers. –Dedicated to Professor Ryuichi Tanaka on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday 1. Introduction and Background Let us briefly recall poly-Bernoulli numbers. For an integer k ∈ Z, put Lik (z) = ∞ ! zn n=1 nk . The formal power series Lik (z) is the k-th polylogarithm if k ≥ 1, and a rational function if k ≤ 0. When k = 1, Li1 (z) = − log(1 − z). The formal power series Lik (z) can be used (k) to introduce poly-Bernoulli numbers. The rational numbers Bn (n = 0, 1, 2, . . .) are said to be poly-Bernoulli numbers if they satisfy ∞ (1) Lik (1 − e−x ) ! (k) xn = Bn . 1 − e−x n! n=0 In addition, for any n ≥ 0, Bn is the classical Bernoulli number, Bn . It was shown in [1] that special values of certain zeta functions at non-positive integers can be described in terms of poly-Bernoulli numbers. Furthermore, Kaneko [8] presented the following recurrences for poly-Bernoulli numbers. INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 2 Theorem 1 (Kaneko) (1) For any k ∈ Z and n ≥ 0, " % $ n−1 # ! 1 n (k) Bn(k) = Bn(k−1) − Bm . m−1 n+1 m=1 (2) For any k ≥ 1 and n ≥ 0, Bn(k) = n ! (−1)m m=0 # n m $ (k−1) Bn−m " m ! l=0 (−1)l n−l+1 # m l $ (1) Bl % . In this paper we consider generalized poly-Bernoulli numbers, which we refer to as multipoly-Bernoulli numbers. Kim-Kim [9] introduced these numbers and proved that special values of certain zeta functions at non-positive integers can be described in terms of these numbers. In [5], we established a closed formula, and a duality property for special multipoly-Bernoulli numbers. Bernoulli numbers satisfy certain recurrence relationships, which are used in many computations involving Bernoulli numbers. Obtaining a recurrence formula for multi-poly-Bernoulli numbers therefore seems to be a natural and important problem. The objective of this paper is thus to establish some recurrence formulae for multi-polyBernoulli numbers. It will be apparent that these recurrence formulae (Theorems 6, 7) are similar to those in the theorem above. 2. Multi-poly-Bernoulli Numbers We first define a generalization of Lik (z). Let r be an integer with a value greater than one. Definition 2 Let k1 , k2 , . . . , kr be integers. Define ! Lik1 ,k2 ,...,kr (z) = m1 ,m2 ,...,mr ∈Z 0<m1 <m2 <···<mr z mr . mk11 · · · mkr r Next let us establish the following fundamental result. Lemma 3 & 1 d Lik1 ,k2 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1 (z) (kr %= 1) z Lik1 ,k2 ,...,kr (z) = . (1) 1 Lik1 ,k2 ,...,kr−1 (z) (kr = 1) dz 1−z The former case may be proven by means of a simple calculation. The latter case follows from ∞ ! ! ! z mr −1 z mr −1 = kr−1 kr−1 k1 k1 0<m1 <···<mr−1 <mr m1 · · · mr−1 0<m1 <···<mr−1 mr =mr−1 +1 m1 · · · mr−1 ! 1 z mr−1 = · . kr−1 k1 1−z 0<m1 <···<mr−1 m1 · · · mr−1 INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 3 This lemma will be required later. Let us now introduce a generalization of poly-Bernoulli numbers, making use of Lik1 ,k2 ,...,kr (z). (k ,k2 ,...,kr ) Definition 4 Multi-poly-Bernoulli numbers Bn 1 integer k1 , k2 , . . . , kr by the generating series (n = 0, 1, 2, . . .) are defined for each ∞ Lik1 ,k2 ,...,kr (1 − e−t ) ! (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) tn = Bn . (1 − e−t )r n! n=0 (2) By definition, the left-hand side of (2) is 1 + k k 1 2 1 2 · · · rkr ! (1 − e−t )mr −r . mk11 · · · mkr r = 1 . · · · rkr 0<m1 <···<mr mr #=r Hence we have, Proposition 5 (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) B0 1k1 2k2 (k ,k2 ) The following tables show the values of Bn 1 \n (1,1) Bn (1,0) Bn (0,1) Bn (0,0) Bn (0,−1) Bn (−1,0) Bn (−1,−1) Bn 0 1 2 3 4 1 2 5 12 13 6 5 6 1 4 1 20 119 30 31 30 (k ,k2 ,k3 ) and Bn 1 5 1 − 12 5 for small n, ki . 6 7 5 84 253 42 41 42 1 12 1 2 1 2 3 2 2 3 1 2 1 2 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 6 18 54 162 486 1458 2574 3 9 27 81 243 729 1287 9 39 165 687 2829 11505 46965 1 3 29 30 43 42 7 29 30 INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 \n (1,1,1) Bn (1,1,0) Bn (1,0,1) Bn (0,1,1) Bn (1,0,0) Bn (0,1,0) Bn (0,0,1) Bn (0,0,0) Bn (0,0,−1) Bn (0,−1,0) Bn (−1,0,0) Bn (0,−1,−1) Bn (−1,0,−1) Bn (−1,−1,0) Bn (−1,−1,−1) Bn 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 6 1 2 1 3 1 6 1 4 1 3 23 12 133 120 19 40 37 6 8 3 33 20 3 8 7 2 221 120 17 24 19 60 121 20 2383 840 53 56 1079 30 147 10 1047 140 1 8 59 6 673 168 185 168 8 63 1255 84 4321 840 303 280 8317 42 1238 21 4411 140 5 24 127 6 145 24 109 120 1 1 2 1 3 5 8 7 24 5 2 7 6 3 4 1 3 2 1 6 3 2 6 3 9 27 81 243 729 2187 12 48 192 768 3072 12288 49152 8 32 128 512 2048 8192 32768 4 16 64 256 1024 4096 16384 32 168 872 4488 22952 116808 592232 16 84 436 2244 11476 58404 296116 11 59 311 1619 8351 42779 217991 44 306 2054 13446 86414 547686 3434174 1 15 179 30 71 20 85 1177 42 433 28 4 455 3659 30 1271 20 The remainder of this paper deals with recurrences for multi-poly-Bernoulli numbers. 3. Recurrence Formulae We present two kinds of recurrence formulae for multi-poly-Bernoulli numbers. The first formula is as follows. Theorem 6(1) If kr %= 1 and n ≥ 1, then " % $ n−1 # ! 1 n (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) = Bn(k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) − Bm . m−1 n+r m=1 (2) If kr = 1 and n ≥ 1, then Bn(k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) = ' ) & # $ # $( n−1 ! 1 n n (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) Bn(k1 ,...,kr−1 ) − (−1)n−m r + Bm . m m−1 n+r m=0 Proof. (1) Differentiate both sides of Lik1 ,k2 ,...,kr (1 − e−t ) = (1 − e−t )r ∞ ! n=0 Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) tn . n! INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 By (1), we have L.H.S. = On the other hand, e−t Lik1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1 (1 − e−t ). 1 − e−t −t r−1 −t R.H.S. = r(1 − e ) e Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) n=0 +(1 − e−t )r Hence, ∞ ! ∞ ! Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) n=1 tn n! tn−1 . (n − 1)! Lik1 ,k2 ,...,kr −1 (1 − e−t ) (1 − e−t )r ∞ ∞ ! ! tn tn−1 =r Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) + (et − 1) Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) n! (n − 1)! n=0 n=1 =r =r ∞ ! n=0 ∞ ! tn Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) n! Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) n=0 + tn + n! ∞ n ! ∞ ! t n! (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) Bm tm−1 (m − 1)! n=1 m=1 ∞ ! ∞ n+m−1 ! (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) t Bm . n!(m − 1)! m=1 n=1 Here we put l = n + m − 1. The right-hand side of the last equation is then equal to r ∞ ! n=0 tn Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) ∞ ! ∞ ! l! tl · n! m=1 l=m (l − (m − 1))!(m − 1)! l! # $ l ∞ ∞ ! l n ! ! t l (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) t (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) =r Bn + Bm m − 1 l! n! l=1 m=1 n=0 * + $ ∞ ∞ n # n ! ! ! t tn n (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) =r Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) + Bm . n! n=1 m=1 m − 1 n! n=0 + (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) Bm Comparing the coefficients of both sides, for each n ≥ 1, $ n # ! n (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) Bn = rBn + Bm m−1 m=1 $ n−1 # ! n (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) (k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) = (n + r)Bn + Bm . m−1 m=1 This implies the result. (2) Differentiate both sides of Lik1 ,...,kr−1 ,1 (1 − e−t ) = (1 − e−t )r ∞ ! n=0 Bn(k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) tn . n! 5 INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 e−t Lik ,...,k (1 − e−t ) 1 − (1 − e−t ) 1 r−1 = Lik1 ,...,kr−1 (1 − e−t ), ∞ ∞ n ! ! tn−1 −t r−1 −t (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) t −t r R.H.S. = r(1 − e ) e Bn + (1 − e ) Bn(k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) . n! (n − 1)! n=0 n=1 L.H.S. = Hence, ∞ ! Bn(k1 ,...,kr−1 ) n=0 = re−t ∞ ! tn n! Bn(k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) n=0 =r =r ∞ ∞ ! (−t)n ! n! n=0 ∞ ! ∞ ! ∞ ! tn tn−1 + (1 − e−t ) Bn(k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) n! (n − 1)! n=1 m (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) t Bm m! m=0 (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) (−1)n Bm m=0 n=0 − ∞ ∞ ! (−t)n ! n! n=1 ∞ ! ∞ ! m=0 m (k ,··· ,kr−1 ,1) t 1 Bm+1 m! n+m tn+m (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) t − (−1)n Bm+1 . n!m! m=0 n=1 n!m! Here we put l = n + m. The right-hand side of the last equation then becomes ∞ ! ∞ ! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) r (−1)l−m Bm m=0 l=m ∞ ∞ ! ! l! tl · (l − m)!m! l! l! tl · (l − m)!m! l! m=0 l=m+1 # $ l ∞ ! l ! t l l−m (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) =r (−1) Bm m l! l=0 m=0 # $ l ∞ ! l−1 ! t l l−m (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) − (−1) Bm+1 m l! l=1 m=0 (k ,...,kr−1 ,1) 1 (−1)l−m Bm+1 − (k ,...,k ,1) = rB0 1 r−1 " n # $ ! # $% n ∞ n−1 ! ! t n n (k ,...,k ,1) 1 r−1 (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) + (−1)n−m rBm − (−1)n−m Bm+1 . m m n! n=1 m=0 m=0 Comparing both sides, for each n ≥ 1, Bn(k1 ,...,kr−1 ) # $ # $ n n ! ! n n n−m (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) n−m (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) = (−1) r Bm + (−1) Bm m m−1 m=0 m=1 & # $ # $( n−1 ! n n (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) n−m (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) = (n + r)Bn + (−1) r + Bm . m m−1 m=0 6 INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 These computations imply the result. We obtain the second formula using the integral representation of Lik1 ,k2 ,...,kr (1 − e−t ). Theorem 7 (1) If kr %= 1, then for any n ≥ 0, Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) n! = (−1)r−1 (n + r − 1)! # $ n n−m ! ! ! (−1)n−m+r−1−p (n − m + r − 1 − p)! n − m + r − 1 (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) × Bp p j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! m=0 p=0 j +···+j 1 r−1 =n−m+r−1−p ×(−1)m # n+r−1 m $! m l=0 (−1)l n−l+r $ ! l! m (1) (1) Bi1 · · · Bir . l i1 ! · · · ir ! i +···+i # 1 (2) If kr = 1, then for any n ≥ 0, r =l Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) n! = (−1)r−1 (n + r − 1)! # $ n n−m ! ! ! (−1)n−m+r−1−p (n − m + r − 1 − p)! n − m + r − 1 (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) × Bp p j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! m=0 p=0 j1 +···+jr−1 =n−m+r−1−p # $ ! 1 m! n+r−1 (1) (1) × Bi1 · · · Bir . m n−m+r i1 ! · · · ir ! i1 +···+ir =m Proof. (1) Since we have d e−t Lik1 ,k2 ,...,kr (1 − e−t ) = Lik1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1 (1 − e−t ), dt 1 − e−t −t Lik1 ,k2 ,...,kr (1 − e ) = 3 0 t e−s Lik1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1 (1 − e−s )ds. −s 1−e By this equation, ∞ ! tn Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) n! n=0 3 t 1 e−s = Lik1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1 (1 − e−s )ds −t r −s (1 − e ) 1−e # t $r 30 t −s e −s −s r−1 Lik1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1 (1 − e ) = e (1 − e ) · ds et − 1 (1 − e−s )r 0 *∞ +r 3 ∞ * ∞ +r−1 ∞ t! n−1 n ! ! (−s)n ! t (−s) sn = Bn(1) − Bn(k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) ds n! n! n! n! 0 n=0 n=0 n=1 n=0 7 INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 = (−1)r−1 *∞ ! tn−1 Bn(1) n! n=0 +r 3 t! ∞ ∞ ! (−s)n ! × n! n=r−1 j +···+j 0 n=0 1 =n ∞ r−1 (−1)n sn ! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) sn B ds. j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! n=0 n n! We write I1 for the integral part of the last equation. 3 t! ∞ ∞ ∞ ! (−s)n ! ! (−1)n n! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) sn+m I1 = B ds. n! m=0 n=r−1 j +···+j j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! m n!m! 0 n=0 1 =n r−1 Putting l = n + m, 3 t! ∞ ∞ ∞ ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! (−s)n ! ! l! sl (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) I1 = Bm · ds n! m=0 l=m+r−1 j +···+j j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! (l − m)!m! l! 0 n=0 1 r−1 =l−m # $ l 3 t! ∞ ∞ l−r+1 ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! (−s)n ! ! s l (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) = Bm ds m n! l=r−1 m=0 j +···+j j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! l! 0 n=0 1 = 3 t ∞ ! ∞ l−r+1 ! ! (−1)n 0 l=r−1 n=0 m=0 j1 r−1 =l−m # $ n+l ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! s l (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) Bm ds. m j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! n!l! +···+j r−1 =l−m We put a = l + n. Then # $ 3 t ! ∞ ! ∞ l−r+1 ! ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! a! sa l a−l (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) I1 = (−1) Bm · ds m (a − l)!l! a! j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! 0 l=r−1 a=l m=0 j +···+j 1 = 3 t 0 r−1 =l−m # $# $ a ∞ a l−r+1 ! ! ! ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! l a s a−l (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) (−1) Bm ds m l j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! a! j +···+j a=r−1 l=r−1 m=0 1 r−1 =l−m # $ # $ a+1 ∞ a l−r+1 ! ! ! ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! t l a a−l (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) = (−1) Bm . m l j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! (a + 1)! j +···+j a=r−1 l=r−1 m=0 1 Hence, (−1)r−1 *∞ ! r−1 = (−1) r−1 =l−m tn−1 Bn(1) n! n=0 ∞ ! ! n=0 i1 +···+ir =n +r (1) I1 (1) Bi1 · · · Bir tn−r i1 ! · · · ir ! # $ # $ a+1 ∞ a l−r+1 ! ! ! ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! t l a a−l (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) × (−1) Bm m l j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! (a + 1)! j +···+j a=r−1 l=r−1 m=0 1 r−1 =l−m 8 INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 ∞ ! ∞ ! a l−r+1 ! ! ! (1) (1) (−1)a−l Bi1 · · · Bir n! i1 ! · · · ir ! i1 +···+ir a=r−1 n=0 l=r−1 m=0 =n # $ # $ n+a+1 ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! t l a (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) × Bm · t−r m l j ! · · · j ! n!(a + 1)! 1 r−1 j +···+j r−1 = (−1) 1 r−1 =l−m r−1 = (−1) ∞ ∞ a l−r+1 ! ! ! ! ! (1) (1) (b − a − 1)! (−1)a−l Bi1 · · · Bir i1 ! · · · ir ! i +···+ir a=r−1 b=a+1 l=r−1 m=0 1 =b−a−1 # $# $ ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! b! tb l a (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) × Bm · · t−r m l (b − (a + 1))!(a + 1)! b! j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! j +···+j 1 r−1 =l−m (put b = n + a + 1) r−1 = (−1) ∞ ! b−1 ! a l−r+1 ! ! ! (1) (1) (b − a − 1)! (−1)a−l Bi1 · · · Bir i1 ! · · · ir ! i +···+ir b=r a=r−1 l=r−1 m=0 1 =b−a−1 # $# $# $ b−r ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! t l a b (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) × Bm m l a+1 j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! b! j +···+j 1 r−1 =l−m = (−1)r−1 ∞ n+r−1 a l−r+1 ! ! ! ! (−1)a−l n=0 a=r−1 l=r−1 m=0 ! i1 +···+ir =n−a+r−1 (1) (1) (n Bi1 · · · Bir − a + r − 1)! i1 ! · · · ir ! # $# $# $ ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! tn l a n+r (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) × Bm m l a + 1 (n + r)! j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! j +···+j 1 r−1 =l−m (put n = b − r) = × ∞ ! n+r−1 ! n! ! (1) (1) (n − a + r − 1)! (−1)r−1 Bi1 · · · Bir (n + r)! a=r−1 i +···+ir i1 ! · · · ir ! n=0 1 a ! (−1)a−l l=r−1 # =n−a+r−1 $ # $ l−r+1 # $ tn ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! l n+r a ! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) Bm . a+1 l m j ! · · · j ! n! 1 r−1 m=0 j +···+j 1 r−1 =l−m 9 INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 10 If we compare the coefficients of both sides, Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) = (−1)r−1 n+r−1 ! ! n! (1) (1) (n − a + r − 1)! Bi1 · · · Bir (n + r)! a=r−1 i +···+ir i1 ! · · · ir ! 1 =n−a+r−1 × a ! a−l (−1) l=r−1 r−1 = (−1) # n+r a+1 $# a l $ l−r+1 ! m=0 × a=l r−1 =l−m n+r−1 ! l−r+1 ! ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! # l $ n! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) Bm m (n + r − 1)! l=r−1 m=0 j +···+j j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! 1 n+r−1 ! j1 ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! # l $ (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) Bm m j ! · · · j ! 1 r−1 +···+j r−1 =l−m # $# $ (−1) n+r−1 a ! (1) (1) (n − a + r − 1)! Bi1 · · · Bir a l a+1 i1 ! · · · ir ! i +···+ir a−l 1 =n−a+r−1 * by = (−1)r−1 : n+r ; a+1 + n+r−1 a n+r−1 ! ! ! n+r−1 ! n + r n+r−1 = ( a ) and = a+1 a=r−1 l=r−1 l=r−1 a=l n! (n + r − 1)! # $ # $ l−r+1 ! ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! l l n+r−1 (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) × (−1) Bm l m j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! m=0 j +···+j l=r−1 n+r−1 ! 1 r−1 =l−m # $ n+r−1 a ! (−1) ! n+r−1−l (1) (1) (n − a + r − 1)! × B · · · Bir n+r−1−a i +···+ir i1 a+1 i1 ! · · · ir ! a=l 1 =n−a+r−1 (by ( n+r−1 ) ( al ) = ( n+r−1 ) a l r−1 = (−1) × × l$ ! : n+r−1−l ; n+r−1−a ) # $ n ! n! l$ +r−1 n + r − 1 (−1) l# + r − 1 (n + r − 1)! l$ =0 ! (−1) l$ +r−1−m m=0 j1 +···+jr−1 =l$ +r−1−m n+r−1 ! (−1)a a+1 a=l$ +r−1 # (l# + r − 1 − m)! j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! n − l# n+r−1−a (put l# = l − r + 1) $ ! i1 +···+ir =n−a+r−1 # l# + r − 1 m (1) (1) Bi1 · · · Bir $ (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) Bm (n − a + r − 1)! i1 ! · · · ir ! INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 11 # $ n ! n! l$ n + r − 1 = (−1) l# + r − 1 (n + r − 1)! l$ =0 $ # $ l ! ! (−1)l$ +r−1−m (l# + r − 1 − m)! l# + r − 1 (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) × Bm m j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! m=0 j +···+j 1 r−1 =l$ +r−1−m × $ n ! (−1)a +r−1 a# + r a$ =l$ # $ ! # n − l# (1) (1) (n − a )! Bi1 · · · Bir n − a# i1 ! · · · ir ! i +···+ir 1 =n−a$ (put a# = a − r + 1) # $ n ! n! n+r−1 n−l$$ = (−1) n + r − 1 − l## (n + r − 1)! l$$ =0 $$ # $ $$ n−l ! ! (−1)n−l +r−1−m (n − l## + r − 1 − m)! n − l## + r − 1 (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) × Bm m j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! m=0 j1 +···+jr−1 =n−l$$ +r−1−m # $ $ n # ! (−1)a +r−1 ! l## (1) (1) (n − a )! × Bi1 · · · Bir n − a# a# + r i1 ! · · · ir ! i1 +···+ir a$ =n−l$$ =n−a$ ## # (put l = n − l ) # $ n ! n! n−l$$ n + r − 1 = (−1) l## (n + r − 1)! l$$ =0 $$ # $ $$ +r−1−m n−l n−l ## ! ! (−1) (n − l + r − 1 − m)! n − l## + r − 1 (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) × Bm m j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! m=0 j +···+j 1 r−1 =n−l$$ +r−1−m l$$ × ! (−1)n+r−1−a$$ n − a## + r a$$ =0 # ## $ ! a## ! l## (1) (1) Bi1 · · · Bir a## i1 ! · · · ir ! i +···+ir 1 # (put a = n − a ) =a$$ INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 r−1 = (−1) × $$ n−l ! m=0 # $ n ! n! l$$ n + r − 1 (−1) l## (n + r − 1)! l$$ =0 # $ ! (−1)n−l$$ +r−1−m (n − l## + r − 1 − m)! n − l## + r − 1 (k1 ,...,kr−1 ,kr −1) Bm m j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! +···+j j1 r−1 =n−l$$ +r−1−m l$$ × 12 ! $$ (−1)a n − a## + r a$$ =0 $ ! a## ! l## (1) (1) Bi1 · · · Bir . a## i1 ! · · · ir ! i +···+ir # 1 ## =a$$ # (put a = n − a ) This shows the claim. (2) Since d Lik ,k ,...,k ,1 (1 − e−t ) = Lik1 ,...,kr−1 (1 − e−t ), dt 1 2 r−1 3 t −t Lik1 ,...,kr−1 ,1 (1 − e ) = Lik1 ,...,kr−1 (1 − e−s )ds. we have 0 Hence ∞ ! tn n! $r 3 Bn(k1 ,...,kr−1 ,1) n=0 # t Lik1 ,...,kr−1 (1 − e−s ) = (1 − e ) · ds (1 − e−s )r−1 0 *∞ +r 3 * ∞ +r−1 ∞ t n−1 ! ! (−s)n ! t sn = Bn(1) − Bn(k1 ,...,kr−1 ) ds n! n! n! 0 n=0 n=1 n=0 r−1 = (−1) et et − 1 *∞ ! tn−1 Bn(1) n! n=0 −s r−1 +r 3 t ∞ ! 0 n=r−1 ! ∞ (−1)n sn ! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) sm B ds. j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! m=0 m m! j1 +···+jr−1 =n Denote by I2 the integral part of the last equation. 3 t! ∞ ! ∞ ! (−1)n n! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) sn+m I2 = B ds j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! m n!m! 0 m=0 n=r−1 j +···+j 1 = 3 t! ∞ ∞ ! 0 m=0 l=m+r−1 = 3 t =n ! r−1 j1 +···+jr−1 =l−m (−1)l−m (l − m)! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) l! sl Bn · ds j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! (l − m)!m! l! (put l = n + m) ∞ l−r+1 ! ! ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! 0 l=r−1 m=0 j1 +···+jr−1 =l−m j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) Bm # l m $ sl ds l! INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 ∞ l−r+1 ! ! = l=r−1 m=0 ! j1 +···+jr−1 =l−m (−1)l−m (l − m)! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) Bm j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! # l m $ tl+1 . (l + 1)! Thus, (−1)r−1 *∞ ! tn−1 Bn(1) n! n=0 r−1 = (−1) ∞ ! ! n=0 × = (−1) i1 +···+ir =n ∞ l−r+1 ! ! l=r−1 m=0 r−1 (1) # j1 +···+jr−1 =l−m l m $ (1) Bi1 · · · Bir tn−r i1 ! · · · ir ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) Bm j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! ∞ ! ∞ l−r+1 ! ! ! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) ×Bm = (−1) I2 ! l=r−1 n=0 m=0 r−1 +r (1) Bi1 i1 +···+ir =n (1) · · · Bir n! i1 ! · · · ir ! l=r−1 a=l+1 m=0 = (−1) (1) i1 +···+ir =a−l−1 # ∞ ! a−1 l−r+1 ! ! ! a=r l=r−1 m=0 (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) ×Bm r−1 = (−1) # l m $# i1 +···+ir =a−l−1 ∞ n+r−1 ! ! l−r+1 ! n=0 l=r−1 m=0 − l − 1)! i1 ! · · · ir ! (1) (a Bi1 · · · Bir # a l+1 ! − l − 1)! i1 ! · · · ir ! (1) (a (1) Bi1 · · · Bir $ $ tl+1 (l + 1)! (−1)l−m (l − m)! j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! i1 +···+ir =n−l+r−1 ! j1 +···+jr−1 =l−m ! j1 +···+jr−1 =l−m (−1)l−m (l − m)! j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! ta−r a! (1) (1) Bi1 · · · Bir $# $ tn l n+r m l+1 (n + r)! (put n = a − r) (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) ×Bm ! j1 +···+jr−1 =l−m $ a! ta l · · t−r m (a − (l + 1))!(l + 1)! a! (put a = n + l + 1) r−1 l m tn+l+1 · t−r n!(l + 1)! ∞ ∞ l−r+1 ! ! ! ! (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) ×Bm # n! i1 ! · · · ir ! ! j1 +···+jr−1 =l−m (−1)l−m (l − m)! j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! 13 INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 ∞ ! $ ! n+r−1 # (−1)r−1 n! ! n + r (1) (1) (n − l + r − 1)! = Bi1 · · · Bir l + 1 i +···+i (n + r)! i1 ! · · · ir ! r n=0 l=r−1 1 =n−l+r−1 # $ l−r+1 tn ! ! (−1)l−m (l − m)! l (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) × Bm . m j +···+j j ! · · · j ! n! 1 r−1 m=0 1 r−1 =l−m If we compare the coefficients of both sides of the equation, # $ n+r−1 (−1)r−1 n! ! n + r ! (1) (1) (n − l + r − 1)! Bn(k1 ,k2 ,...,kr ) = Bi1 · · · Bir l+1 (n + r)! i1 ! · · · ir ! i +···+i l=r−1 × l−r+1 ! m=0 ! j1 +···+jr−1 =l−m r 1 =n−l+r−1 l−m (−1) (l − m)! j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! # l m $ (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) Bm # $ n+r−1 (−1)r−1 n! ! 1 n+r−1 ! (1) (1) (n − l + r − 1)! = Bi1 · · · Bir l (n + r − 1)! l+1 i1 ! · · · ir ! i +···+i l=r−1 × l−r+1 ! m=0 ! j1 +···+jr−1 =l−m (−1)l−m (l − m)! j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! r 1 =n+r−1−l # l m $ (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) Bm # $ : n+r ; n + r n+r−1 by l+1 = ( l ) l+1 # $ n (−1)r−1 n! ! 1 n+r−1 ! (1) (1) (n − a)! = Bi1 · · · Bir (n + r − 1)! a+r a+r−1 i1 ! · · · ir ! i +···+i a=0 a ! × m=0 = × n−l$ ! m=0 ! ! j1 +···+jr−1 =a+r−1−m (−1)r−1 n! (n + r − 1)! r 1 =n−a (−1)a+r−1−m (a + r − 1 − m)! j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! (put a = l − r + 1) n ! l$ =0 # $ # a+r−1 m $ (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) Bm 1 l# ! n+r−1 ! (1) (1) B · · · B i1 ir n − l# + r n + r − 1 − l# i1 ! · · · ir ! i +···+ir j1 +···+jr−1 =n−l$ +r−1−m (put l# = n − a) =l$ # $ (n − l + r − 1 − m)! n − l# + r − 1 (k1 ,...,kr−1 ) Bm . m j1 ! · · · jr−1 ! n−l$ +r−1−m (−1) 1 # 14 INTEGERS: ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY 7 (2007), #A46 15 This shows the claim. (1) Remark 8 Some recurrences exist for the original Bernoulli numbers Bn = Bn (n ≥ 0), the case in which the upper index is fixed with the value (1). The problem of finding a (k ,k ,...,k ) recurrence among Bn 1 2 r (n ≥ 0) for fixed (k1 , k2 , . . . , kr ), is therefore intriguing. References [1] T. Arakawa, M. Kaneko, Multiple zeta values, poly-Bernoulli numbers, and related zeta functions. Nagoya J. Math. 153 (1999), 189-209. [2] T. Arakawa, M. Kaneko, On poly-Bernoulli numbers. Comment. Math. Univ. St. Pauli 48 (1999), 159-167. [3] L. Carlitz, Some theorems on Bernoulli numbers of higher order. Pacific J. Math. 2 (1952), 127-139. [4] R. Graham, D. Knuth, O. Patashnik, Concrete Mathematics. Addison-Wesley, 1989. [5] Y. Hamahata, H. Masubuchi, Special multi-poly-Bernoulli numbers. Journal of Integer Sequences 10 (2007), Article 07.4.1. 6pp. [6] K. Ireland, M. Rosen, A Classical Introduction to Modern Number Theory. 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