On the structure of zerofree sequences (Q1307313)

The representation of elements in an abelian group \(G\) as a sum of elements drawn from a sequence \(S\) in the group is a natural generalization of the same question for integers and has been much studied. The subset of zerofree sequences, i.e., those sequences for which \(0\notin \Sigma(S)\), where \(\Sigma(S)\) is the set of sums of non-empty subsequences of \(S\), is of particular interest. The authors prove a result for general finite abelian groups about the maximal multiplicity of elements in long zerofree sequences which improves known results if the sequence is not too long. They deduce that a cyclic group of order \(n\) with a zerofree sequence of cardinality at least \((n+3)/2\) contains an element of order at least \(n\).