Composite rational functions expressible with few terms (Q653292)

Let \(k\) be a field of characteristic zero, and let \(f(x)=P(x)/Q(x)\in k(x)\) be a rational function which is ``lacunary'', in the sense that the polynomials \(P\) and \(Q\) have altogether at most a given number \(\ell\) of terms (the polynomials \(P\) and \(Q\) need not be coprime). The paper studies the possible non-trivial decompositions of such a function, namely, the expressions of type \(f(x)=g(h(x))\) where \(g\) and \(h\) are rational functions of degree \(>1\). Let us call a decomposition of this type exceptional if \(h(x)=\lambda(ax^n+bx^{-n})\) for \(a,b\in k\), \(n\in{\mathbb N}\) and \(\lambda\in\text{PGL}_2(k)\). The main theorem states the following: if \(f(x)=g(h(x))\) and the decomposition is neither trivial nor exceptional, then \(\deg g \leq 2016 \cdot 5^\ell\).