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Kernel-Checked Exclusions for the Erdős-Selfridge Odd Covering Problem: Any Odd Covering of $\mathbb{Z}$ Has lcm Exceeding 10000

Logic in Computer Science 2026-07-28 v1 Number Theory

Abstract

The Erd\H{o}s-Selfridge odd covering problem (Erd\H{o}s problem #7) asks whether a covering system of Z\mathbb{Z} exists whose moduli are all odd, distinct, and greater than 1. The problem is open. We present a Lean 4 formalization, checked end to end by the proof kernel, of the exclusion: any covering of Z\mathbb{Z} by finitely many congruence classes with distinct odd moduli > 1 has lcm of the moduli exceeding 10000. The proof composes a formalized density argument (a covering by divisors of NN exceeding 1 forces 2Nσ1(N)2N \le \sigma_1(N), so the lcm is abundant or perfect), a kernel-checked abundancy floor (no odd N<945N < 945 qualifies), a family of Chinese-Remainder capacity certificates -- decidable per-NN arithmetic inequalities each refuting every covering with distinct moduli > 1 dividing that NN -- for all 23 odd abundant numbers below 10410^4, and a kernel-checked enumeration establishing that those 23 are the only odd non-deficient candidates. The result is transported to the official StrictCoveringSystem Z\mathbb{Z} formulation of Erd\H{o}s #7 in google-deepmind/formal-conjectures, with a bidirectional periodicity bridge between coverings of Z\mathbb{Z} and finite checks over Z/NZ\mathbb{Z}/N\mathbb{Z} suitable for consuming future SAT-style search output. All 63 published theorems depend on exactly propext, Classical.choice, and Quot.sound: no sorry, no native_decide, no solver in the trusted base. The mathematical content is known -- the density argument is folklore, and far larger uncertified classifications of covering numbers exist -- so the contribution is epistemic rather than mathematical: these exclusions are theorems of the Lean kernel, with an axiom gate enforced mechanically in continuous integration.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2607.25628,
  title  = {Kernel-Checked Exclusions for the Erdős-Selfridge Odd Covering Problem: Any Odd Covering of $\mathbb{Z}$ Has lcm Exceeding 10000},
  author = {Ibrahim Mian and Shayaan Siddique},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.25628},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

11 pages. Lean 4 sources, certificates, and CI at https://github.com/ibrahimmian36/centurion