Holzer's theorem in \(k[t]\) (Q2631619)

Let \( k \) be an arbitrary number field and \( k[t] \) the ring of integers of polynomials over \( k \). For \( a \in k[t], ~ a \ne 0 \), let \( |a| \) denote the degree of \( a \). If \( a_1, \ldots, a_n \in k[t] \) with each \( a_i \ne 0 \), let \( \langle a_1, \ldots, a_n \rangle \) denote the quadratic form \( a_1x_1^2 + \cdots + a_n x_n^2\). We say that \( \langle a_1, \ldots, a_n \rangle \) is \textit{isotropic} over \( k[t] \) if there exist \( b_1, \ldots, b_n \in k[t] \), not all zero, such that \( a_1b_1^2+ \cdots+ a_n b_n^2 =0 \). Such a vector \( (b_1, \ldots, b_n) \) is called an \textit{isotropic vector} of \( \langle a_1, \ldots, a_n \rangle \). In the current paper, the authors prove the following theorem, which is their main result in the paper. They improve the bounds of \textit{A. Prestel} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 378, 101--112 (1987; Zbl 0606.10014)], for the equation \( ax^2+by^2+ cz^2=0 \) in \( k[t] \) by proving the analogous result of the theorem of \textit{L. Holzer} [Can. J. Math. 2, 238--244 (1950; Zbl 0037.02602)], when \( a, b, c \) are integers. Theorem 1. Let \( a, b, c \in k[t] \) with \( abc \ne 0 \). Assume that \( \langle a, b, c \rangle \) is isotropic over \( k[t] \). Then there exist \( x_0, y_0, z_0 \in k[t] \), not all zero, such that \[ ax_0^2+by_0^2+cz_0^2=0, \tag{1} \] \[ |x_0| \le \dfrac{|b|+ |c|}{2}, \quad |y_0| \le \dfrac{|a|+ |c|}{2}, \quad |z_0| \le \dfrac{|a|+ |b|}{2}. \tag{2} \] The proof of Theorem 1 follows from elementary techniques in number theory, in particular, it follows by induction on the degree \( |a|+|b|+ |c| \).