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Multiplicative subgroups are not restricted sumsets

Number Theory 2026-07-28 v1 Combinatorics

Abstract

We determine exactly which proper multiplicative subgroups of a prime field can be represented as a restricted sumset of the form A+^A={a+a:a,aA, aa}A\mathbin{\widehat{+}} A=\{a+a':a,a'\in A,\ a\ne a'\}. We prove that a proper multiplicative subgroup HFpH\le\mathbb F_p^* cannot satisfy H=A+^AH=A\mathbin{\widehat{+}} A whenever H7|H|\ge7, and that this threshold is sharp. In fact, such a decomposition exists precisely when H{1,3,6}|H|\in\{1,3,6\}, and we classify all decompositions in these exceptional cases. This gives a sharp, complete resolution of the restricted-sumset analogue of the generalized S\'ark\"ozy conjecture over prime fields. This significantly extends and refines previous results of Shkredov and Yip.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2607.25711,
  title  = {Multiplicative subgroups are not restricted sumsets},
  author = {Chi Hoi Yip and Semin Yoo},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.25711},
  year   = {2026}
}

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22 pages