Abstract:  Two hypergeometric terms f(k) and g(k) are said to be similar if the ratio f(k) =g(k) is a rational function of k. For similar hypergeometric terms f₁(k),..., f_m(k), we present an algorithm, called the extended Zeilberger algorithm, to derive a linear relation among the sums F_i = ∑_k f_i(k) (1 ≤ i ≤ m) with polynomial coefficients. When the summands f₁(k),..., f_m(k) contain a parameter x, we further impose the condition that the coefficients of F_i in the linear relation are x-free. Such linear relations with x-free coefficients can be used to determine the structure relations for orthogonal polynomials and to derive recurrence relations for the connection coefficients between two sequences of orthogonal polynomials. The extended Zeilberger algorithm can be easily adapted to basic hypergeometric terms. As examples, we use the algorithm or its q-analogue to establish linear relations among orthogonal polynomials and to derive recurrence relations with multiple parameters for hypergeometric sums and basic hypergeometric sums.

  AMS Classification:  33F10, 33C45, 33D45

  Keywords:  Zeilberger's algorithm, the extended Zeilberger algorithm, the Gosper algorithm, hypergeometric series, orthogonal polynomials

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