Factoring by simulated subsets (Q1895622)

\textit{A. D. Sands} proved that if the finite abelian group \(G\) is a direct product of the subsets \(A_1,\dots,A_n\) such that for each \(i\), there is a subgroup \(H_i\) of \(G\) with \(|A_i|=|H_i|\leq|A_i\cap H_i|+p-2\), where \(p\) is the least prime factor of \(|G|\), then \(A_i=H_i\) for some \(i\) [see: Aequationes Math. 44, No. 1, 48-59 (1992; Zbl 0795.20039)]. The main result of the reviewed paper generalizes Sands' theorem, proving that the same conclusion holds if \(|H_i|=|A_i|\leq|A_i\cap H_i|+p_i-2\) for each \(i\), where \(p_i\) is the least prime factor of \(|A_i|\). In addition, two similar results are obtained as generalizations of earlier results.