Bowman-Bradley type theorem for finite multiple zeta values

Abstract

The multiple zeta values are multivariate generalizations of the values of the Riemann zeta function at positive integers. The Bowman-Bradley theorem asserts that the multiple zeta values at the sequences obtained by inserting a fixed number of twos between $3,1,\dots,3,1$ add up to a rational multiple of a power of $\pi$. We show that an analogous theorem holds in a very strong sense for finite multiple zeta values, which have been investigated by Hoffman and Zhao among others and recently recast by Zagier.