Diophantine inequalities with mixed powers (Q5905185)

Let \(\{n_i\}\) be a sequence ofn natural numbers with \(2\leq n_1\leq n_2\ldots\). \textit{G. A. Freĭman} [Solution of Waring's problem in a new form. Usp. Mat. Nauk 4, No. 1(29), 193 (1949; \url{http://mi.mathnet.ru/eng/umn/v4/i1/p183})] stated and \textit{E. J. Scourfield} [J. Lond. Math. Soc. 35, 98--116 (1960; Zbl 0095.03201)] proved that for (given) \(j\geq 1\) a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of \(r\) such that all large natural numbers \(N\) are representable in the form \(N=\sum_{i=j}^{j+r-1} x_i^{n_i}\) (\(x_i\)'s being natural numbers) is that \(\sum_{i=1}^\infty n_i^{-1}=\infty\). The corresponding problem for prime powers was considered by the reviewer [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 16, 193--212 (1966; Zbl 0142.01302)]. In this paper the author considers the corresponding problem for the solubility of certain Diophantine inequalities. The problem is a generalization of that with like powers as in [\textit{H. Davenport} and \textit{K. F. Roth}, Mathematika 2, 81--96 (1955; Zbl 0066.29301)]. The main result is the following theorem: Let \(\{\lambda_i\}\) be a (finite) sequence of non-zero real numbers, not all of the same sign and such that \(\lambda_i/\lambda_j\) are not all rational. Then, a set of necessary and sufficient conditions that for every real number \(\eta\) and \(j\geq 1\), there exists \(s\) and (constant) \(c>0\) such that the inequality \[ \bigl| \eta+\sum_{i=j}^{j+s-1} \lambda_ix_i^{n_i}\bigr| < (\max x_i)^{-\sigma} \] has infinitely many solutions in (a) natural numbers \(x_1,\ldots,x_s\) and (b) in primes \(x_1,\ldots,x_s\) is that \(\sum_{i=1}^\infty n_i^{-1}=\infty\).