Set theoretic, measure theoretic, combinatorial, and number theoretic problems concerning point sets in Euclidean space (Q755579): Difference between revisions

The author states several combinatorial statements putting in contrast the corresponding situations for the finite and the infinite case respectively and that in general the case of finite sets is more complicate than the one of transfinite sets. E.g. if \(S\) is any infinite set in \(E_k\), then \(S\) contains an equinumerous set \(S_1\) such that all distances between points of \(S_1\) are distinct (cf. \textit{P.Erdős}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 1, 127-141 (1950; Zbl 0039.04902). On the other hand, let \(f_k(n)\) be the largest integer such that any \(n\)-point-set \(S\) in \(E_k\) contains an \(f_k(n)\)-subset \(S_1\) such that all distances of points of \(S_1\) are distinct. ''The exact determination of \(f_k(n)\) seems hopoless...''. A plausible conjecture is \(f_1(n)=(1+o(1))n^{1/2}\), where \(g_1(n)=\max k\) such that any strictly increasing \(k\)-sequence \(a_1< a_2< \dots< a_k\) of natural numbers \(\leq n\) has all distinct differences \(a_j-a_i\). The author conjectures that \(g_1(n)=n^{1/2}+0(1)\). He conjectures that \(f_1(n)=g_1(n)=n^{1/2}+0(1)\). Let \(n_k\) be the smallest integer such that \(f_k(n_k)=3\); e.g. \(n_2=9\); it is not known whether \(n_k^{1/k}\to 1\). Problem: Is there a constant \(C> 0\) such that every set \(s\subset E_2\) of measure \(>C\) contains the vertices of a triangle area? Problem: Given a countable subset \(A\) of \([0,1]\); estimate the largest possible measure of a subset of \([0,1]\) which does not contain a set similar to A. Problem: A set \(S\) in an Euclidean space of finite dimension is said to be Ramsey if for every \(k\in N\) there is an \(n_k\) such that if \(E_{n_k}\) is decomposed into \(k\) disjoint sets \(A_i\) then S is contained in one of these sets \(A_1,\dots, A_k\); is every obtuse angled triangle Ramsey? Is regular pentagon Ramsey? Problem: Is there a set \(S\) of power \(c\) in Hilbert space such that every equinumerous subset \(S_1\) contains an equilateral triangle (resp. an infinite dimensional regular simplex)? Many other questions are discoussed in the present paper announcing that he matter will be extensively discussed along with other questions in a forthcoming book written jointly by the author and George Purdy.