The Mobius inversion formulation corresponding to inequally weighted s
ummations for solving some three-dimensional lattice problems introduc
ed by Chen et al. [Phys. Lett. A 184 (1994) 347] has been used for the
first time to obtain the pair potentials for fee and L1(2) structures
. The derivation is exact for radial potentials not only between ident
ical atoms, but also between distinct atoms. We have tested this formu
lation for Ni3Al using the empirical total energy function in the Rose
model. The phonon dispersions and the elastic constants have been eva
luated based on our calculated pair potentials and the results are in
good agreement with the experimental data. This method shows a conveni
ent route from electronic structure calculation or empirical formula o
f binding energy curve to mechanical properties of materials. It also
indicates the potential application of the number theory method to con
densed matter physics.