ON A THEOREM OF RUZIEWICZ (Q4381698)

A classical theorem due to Steinhaus states that if \(A\) is a Lebesgue measurable set of the real line of positive Lebesgue measure, then the difference set \(\{x- y:x,y\in A\}\) contains a nonempty interval. In 1925, \textit{S. Ruziewicz} [Fundam. Math. 7, 141-143 (1925; JFM 51.0168.01)] extended this result by Steinhaus in the following manner. Theorem. For any set of \(m\) positive real numbers \(k_1,k_2,\dots, k_m\) and for any linear set of positive Lebesgue measure, there exist points \(x_1< x_2<\cdots< x_{m+ 1}\) all in \(A\) such that \(x_{i+ 1}- x_i= d k_i\), \(i= 1,2,\dots,m\), where the positive number \(d\) does not depend on \(i\). In this paper, the authors give an alternative proof of this theorem which is more simple than the original one. They prove also a generalization of the category analogue of the same theorem, due to Piccard, while \(A\) is a second category set possessing the property of Baire.