Homogeneous covering congruences and subgroup covers (Q1767660): Difference between revisions

An \(n\)-cover is a set \(\{a_{i1},\dots,a_{in}:c_i:m_i\}\), \(1\leq i\leq k\) of \(n+2\)--tuples of integers with \(1<m_1<\dots<m_k\), and \(\gcd(a_{j1},\dots,a_{jn},c_j,m_j)=1\) for \(j=1,\dots,k\) such that every \((x_1,\dots,x_n)\in{\mathbb Z}^n\) satisfies the congruence \(a_{j1}x_1+\dots+a_{jn}x_n\equiv c_j\pmod{m_j}\) for at least one \(1\leq j\leq k\). The cover is called homogeneous if \(c_1=\dots=c_k=0\). The authors prove among others: (1) there is a non-primary (i.e. there exists a prime dividing a modulus \(m_j\) of the system but itself not appearing among the moduli) homogeneous \(2\)-cover with \(25\) moduli, none exceeding \(180\), all dividing \(1440\) (this gives a simpler example as previously given by \textit{A. Schinzel} [Rocky Mt. J. Math. 27, No. 1, 335--342 (1997; Zbl 0897.11001)]; (2) for every \(n\geq2\) there is an irredundant (no one of its proper subsets is an \(n\)-cover), fully (consult the paper for the definition) \(n\)-dimensional homogeneous \(n\)-cover; (3) a subgroup cover of the integer lattice in two or more dimensions is a presentation of that lattice as a finite union of proper subgroups, no two of the same index. Several questions posed by Cochrane and Myerson on subgroup covers are answered.