Linear equations with unknowns from a multiplicative group whose solutions lie in a small number of subspaces. (Q1890445)

Let \(\Gamma\) be a finitely generated subgroup of non-zero elements in a field \(K\) of characteristic zero. For fixed coefficients \(a_1,\ldots,a_n\in K^*\) we consider the number of solutions \(x_1,\ldots,x_n\in \Gamma\) of the unit equation \(a_1x_1+\ldots+a_nx_n=1\). The author and \textit{K. Győry} [Compos. Math. 66, 329--354 (1988; Zbl 0644.10015)] showed that then for all but finitely many equivalence classes of the coefficient tuples the set of solution tuples is contained in not more than \(2^{(n+1)!}\) proper linear subspaces of \(K^n\). The author [J. Reine Angew. Math. 432, 177--217 (1992; Zbl 0754.11009)] improved this to \((n!)^{2n+2}\). In the present paper the author shows that the set of non-degenerate solutions is contained in not more than \(2^n\) proper linear subspaces of \(K^n\). This quantity can not be replaced by a constant smaller than \(n\).