Density and Ramsey type results on algebraic equations with restricted solution sets (Q2448936): Difference between revisions

Following former work by the last two authors, this paper considers the general problem on the existence of solutions of polynomial equations when the variables are restricted to run over given subsets. Density results refer to existence of solutions on dense subsets, while Ramsey results refer to existence of monochromatic solutions under a coloring of the ground set. Motivated by earlier work, the paper gives several positive and negative results. For instance, it is proved that, for any \(k\)-coloring of the positive integers (or of a finite field with sufficiently large order depending on \(k\)), there is a monochromatic solution of the equation \(x(y+z)=yz\), while there is a \(16\)-coloring of the integers with no monochromatic solution to the equation \(x+y=z^2\). As noted in the paper, the existence of monochromatic solutions to the equation \(x+y=zt\) in \(k\)-colorings of the integers, one of the problems mentioned here, was solved in the positive by \textit{N. Hindman} [Integers 11, No. 4, 431--439 (2011; Zbl 1243.05237)] in a quite stronger form. The paper concludes with an interesting list of open problems.