English

Integers that are not the sum of positive powers

Number Theory 2025-04-01 v2

Abstract

The generalized Waring problem asks exactly which positive integers cannot be expressed as the sum of jj positive kk-th powers? Using computational techniques, this paper refines an approach introduced by Zenkin, establishes results for the individual cases 5k95 \le k \le 9, and resolves conjectures of Zenkin and the OEIS. This paper further establishes theoretical results regarding the properties of the sets of integers that are not the sum of jj positive kk-th powers. The notion of Waring's problem is further extended to the finite sets of non-representable numbers where G(1,k)<j<g(1,k)G(1,k) < j < g(1,k). Improved computational techniques and results from Waring's problem are used throughout to catalog the sets of such integers, which are then considered in a general setting.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2404.08193,
  title  = {Integers that are not the sum of positive powers},
  author = {Brennan Benfield and Oliver Lippard},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2404.08193},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

20 pages, updated version to include improvements in the computational technique and the reduction of upper bounds on $G(1,k)$. The main results are also restated in a general format