A remark on sets having the Steinhaus property (Q2563508): Difference between revisions

A subset \(S\) of \(\mathbb{R}^2\) is said to have the Steinhaus property if, placed on the plane, it always covers exactly one integer lattice. A long-standing open question is whether or not such a set exists. \textit{J. Beck} [On a lattice-point problem of H. Steinhaus, Stud. Sci. Math. Hung. 24, No. 2/3, 263-268 (1989; Zbl 0703.11028)] proved that if \(S\) is a bounded Steinhaus set then it is not Lebesgue measurable. The author of the present paper proves that if \(S\) is a Steinhaus set then it has empty interior. An interesting consequence of this result is that if \(S\) is a closed set then it is not a Steinhaus set. This fact was noted (in a weaker form) by Sierpiński. The proof is elementary combinatorial; the author used only the well-known theorem of Baire.