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Reference.org
Sum of squares function
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Number_theory/zhoa7zrc">number theory</a>, the sum of squares function is an <a href="/facts/Arithmetic_function/hULxwsgm">arithmetic function</a> that gives the number of representations for a given positive <a href="/facts/Integer/PUwwrawx">integer</a> <i>n</i> as the sum of <i>k</i> <a href="/facts/Square_number/jfakASPK">squares</a>, where representations that differ only in the order of the <a href="/facts/Summand/apFWJBFB">summands</a> or in the signs of the numbers being squared are counted as different. It is denoted by <i>r</i><i>k</i>(<i>n</i>). </p>