Elliptic curves, modular forms, and sums of Hurwitz class numbers

Let H(N) denote the Hurwitz class number. It is known that if p is a prime, then Sigma(vertical bar r vertical bar < 2 root p) H(4p - r(2)) = 2p. In this paper, we investigate the behavior of this sum with the additional condition r equivalent to c (mod m). Three different methods will be explored for determining the values of such sums. First, we will count isomorphism classes of elliptic curves over finite fields. Second, we will express the sums as coefficients of modular forms. Third, we will manipulate the Eichler-Selberg trace formula for Hecke operators to obtain Hurwitz class number relations. The cases m = 2, 3 and 4 are treated in full. Partial results, as well as several conjectures, are given for m = 5 and 7. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.