The Method of Combinatorial Telescoping

Abstract

We present a method for proving q-series identities by combinatorial telescoping, in the sense that one can transform a bijection or a classification of combinatorial objects into a telescoping relation. We shall illustrate this method by giving a combinatorial proof of Watson's identity which implies the Rogers-Ramanujan identities.

11 pages, 5 figures; to appear in J. Combin. Theory Ser. A