English

On the Sumset of Sets of Size $k$

Combinatorics 2025-07-02 v2 Number Theory

Abstract

The set RG(h,k)\mathcal{R}_{G}(h,k) consists of all possible sizes for the hh-fold sumset of sets containing kk elements from an additive abelian group GG. The exact makeup of this set is still unknown, but there has been progress towards determining which integers are present. We know that RG(h,k)[hkh+1,(h+k1h)]\mathcal{R}_{G}(h,k)\subseteq\left[hk-h+1,\binom{h+k-1}{h}\right], where the right side is an interval of integers that includes the endpoints. These endpoints are known to be attained. We will prove that the integers in [hkh+2,hk1]\left[hk-h+2,hk-1\right] are not possible sizes for the hh-fold sumset of a set containing k4k\geq 4 elements of a torsion-free additive abelian group GG. Furthermore, we will confirm that this interval can't be made larger by exhibiting a subset of GG whose hh-fold sumset has size hkhk.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2505.07679,
  title  = {On the Sumset of Sets of Size $k$},
  author = {Vincent Schinina},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2505.07679},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

Generalized the results from the integers to any torsion-free additive abelian group. Added definitions pertaining to groups and a section focused on known facts about ordered additive abelian groups, which relates to torsion-free additive abelian groups. Lastly, a proof of a known fact about sumsets has now been added. Including the references page, there are 11 pages