A multiple set version of the \(3k-3\) theorem (Q2567444)

The authors introduce to Freiman's inverse theorems and prove the following theorem, which is a classification of sets with small sumsets: Let \(A\) be a set of non-negative integers with \(\min A=0, \max A=M\),and \(\gcd A=1\). Let \(j\geq 2\) be an integer. Let \(jA\) denote the \(j\)-fold sumset. If the upper bound \(| jA | \leq \frac{j(j+1)}{2} ( | A| -1)\) holds, then one of the following happens: \(| A | \geq 1+ \frac{M}{j}\). \(A\) is the union of two arithmetic progressions with the same common difference. \(A\) is an arithmetic progression modulo \(M\). \(M\) is even and \(A\) is of the form \(A=\{0,M/2,M,x,x+M/2, 2x\}\) for some positive integer \(x<M/2\). The special case \(j=2\) is a famous theorem by \textit{G. A. Freiman} [Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved., Mat. 1959, No. 6(13), 202--213 (1959; Zbl 0096.25904)]. Freiman's theorem is also called the \(3k-3\) theorem; the third alternative does not occur in this case. The paper concludes with an application to the Frobenius problem.