Waring's problem for linear polynomials and Laurent polynomials (Q2496901)

Waring's problem is about representing any function in a class of functions as a sum of \(k\)th powers of nonconstant functions in the same class. We allow complex coefficients in these kind of problems. Consider \(\sum^{p_1}_{i=1}f_i(z)^k=z\) and \(\sum^{p_1}_{i=1}f_i(z)^k=1\). Suppose that \(k\geq 2\). Let \(p_1\) and \(p_2\) be the smallest numbers of functions that give the above identities. W. K. Hayman obtained lower bounds of \(p_1\) and \(p_2\) for polynomials, entire functions, rational functions and meromorphic functions. First, we consider Waring's problem for linear polynomials and get \(p_1=k\) and \(p_2=k+1\). Then, we study Waring's problem for Laurent polynomials and obtain lower bounds of \(p_1\) and \(p_2\).