Arithmetic properties of periodic maps (Q1890220): Difference between revisions

An old question of \textit{P. Erdős} [Mat. Lapok 24, 228--255 (1962; Zbl 0127.02202)] asked that if a finite system of \(k\) congruences covers the integers from \(1\) to \(2^k\) then it covers the whole set of integers [for a proof cf. \textit{R. B. Crittenden} and \textit{C. L. Vanden Eynden}, Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 75, 1326--1329 (1969; Zbl 0186.07902) and Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 24, 475--481 (1970; Zbl 0192.39001)]. Motivated by the author's [Acta Arith. 72, 109--129 (1995; Zbl 0841.11011); Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 348, 4279--4320 (1996; Zbl 0884.11013)], generalizations several further extensions are proved in the paper. One of them says: Let \(F\) be a field of characteristic \(p\) where \(p\) is zero or a prime. Let \(\psi_1,\dots,\psi_k\) be periodic maps from \(\mathbb Z\) to \(F\) with periods \(n_1,\dots,n_k\) not divisible by \(p\). Then \(\psi_1+\dots+\psi_k=0\) if \(\psi_1+\dots+\psi_k=0\) for \(\sum_{d\in D}\varphi(d)\) consecutive integers \(x\), where \(\varphi\) is Euler's totient function, \(D=\bigcup_{s=1}^k D(n_s)\), and \(D(n)\) denotes the set of positive divisors of \(n\).