A combinatorial proof of Jacobi's elliptic identity via alternating permutations
Abstract
We provide a unified combinatorial framework connecting Entringer numbers, Dumont-Viennot snakes, and elliptically weighted continued fractions, which gives a structural interpretation of the Jacobi elliptic identity \begin{equation} \mathrm{sn}'(u)=\mathrm{cn}(u)\,\mathrm{dn}(u), \end{equation} where $\mathrm{sn}$, $\mathrm{cn}$ and $\mathrm{dn}$ are the Jacobi elliptic functions. This framework allows the decomposition of weighted snakes corresponding to the derivative of $\mathrm{sn}$ into canonical $\mathrm{cn}$- and $\mathrm{dn}$-components, bridging classical combinatorics and elliptic function theory.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Advanced Combinatorial Mathematics
Advanced Mathematical Identities
Mathematical functions and polynomials
Publication details
- Journal / source
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Publication date
- 16 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Preprint