A generalization of a modular identity of Rogers

Abstract

In a handwritten manuscript published with his lost notebook, Ramanujan stated without proofs forty identities for the Rogers-Ramanujan functions. Most of the elementary proofs given for these identities are based on Schröter-type theta function identities in particular, the identities of L.J. Rogers. We give a generalization of Rogers's identity that also generalizes similar formulas of H. Schröter, and of R. Blecksmith, J. Brillhart, and I. Gerst. Applications to modular equations, Ramanujan's identities for the Rogers-Ramanujan functions as well as new identities for these functions are given.