Abstract

Transformation formulas for terminating Saalschützian hypergeometric series of unit argument p+1Fp(1) are presented. They generalize the Saalschützian summation formula for 3F2(1). Formulas for p=3,4,5 are obtained explicitly, and a recurrence relation is proved by means of which the corresponding formulas can also be derived for larger p. The Gaussian summation formula can be derived from the Saalschützian formula by a limiting process, and the same is true for the corresponding generalized formulas. By comparison with generalized Gaussian summation formulas obtained earlier in a different way, two identities for finite sums involving terminating 3F2(1) series are found. They depend on four or six independent parameters, respectively.