\(p\)-adic quotient sets. II: Quadratic forms (Q2631681)

Denote by \(\mathbb N\) the set of all positive integers, and if, \(A\), \(A\subset\mathbb N\) is given, define the ratio set by \(R(A)=\{a/b;a,b\in A\}\). \textit{T. Šalát} [Acta Arith. 15, 273--278 (1969; Zbl 0177.07001)] showed that upper asymptotic density \((A)=1\) implies everywhere density of \(R(A)\) in \([0,\infty)\). The quotient set generated by a quadratic form \(Q\) is \(R(Q)=\{Q(\overline x)/Q(\overline y):\overline x,\overline y\in\mathbb Z^r,Q(\overline y)\neq0\}\). The study of \(R(Q)\) was initiated by \textit{S. R. Garcia} and \textit{F. Luca} [Am. Math. Mon. 123, No. 10, 1039--1044 (2016; Zbl 1391.11027)]. The main result of this paper is: (a) If \(Q\) is binary, then \(R(Q)\) is dense in \(\mathbb Q_p\) if and only if the discriminant of \(Q\) is a square in \(\mathbb Q_p\). (b) If \(r\ge 3\), then \(R(Q)\) is dense in \(\mathbb Q_p\). The authors have given two proofs. The first approach is completely elementary, the second approach requires the classification of values represented by quadratic forms over \(\mathbb Q_p\). In proof the authors used other interesting facts: If \(Q\) is isotropic and nonsingular modulo \(p\), then \(R(Q)\) is dense in \(\mathbb Q_p\); \par If \(A\) is \(p\)-adically dense in \(\mathbb N\), then \(R(A)\) is dense in \(\mathbb Q_p\); Let \(Q(x,y)=ax^2+bxy+cy^2\) be primitive and integral with discriminant \(2^kl,\) in which \(l\) is is odd. If \(k\) is even and \(l\equiv 1\pmod 8\), then \(R(Q)\) is dense in \(\mathbb Q_2\).