Irrational proofs for two theorems of Stanley

Matthias Beck and Frank Sottile

We give new proofs of two theorems of Stanley on generating functions for the integer points in rational cones. One is Stanley's reciprocity theorem, relating the generating function at x and 1/x, and the second asserts that the generating function of the Ehrart quasipolynomial is a rational function with a nonnegataive numerator. The proofs are based on elementary (primary school) counting afforded by irrational decompositions of rational polyhedra.



The manuscript in postscript, and in pdf.
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