Remarks on some zero-sum theorems (Q732848)

For a finite abelian group \(G\), the Davenport constant \(D(G)\) is the smallest number \(k\in\mathbb N\) such that any sequence of \(k\) elements in \(G\) has a non-empty subsequence whose sum is zero. Similarly, for an abelian group \(G\) of cardinality \(n\) is defined \(E(G)\) the smallest number \(k\) such that any sequence of \(k\) elements in \(G\) has a subsequence of length \(n\) whose sum is zero. A result of \textit{W. D. Gao} [J. Number Theory 58, No. 1, 100--103 (1996; Zbl 0892.11005)] gives the connection \(E(G)= D(G)+ n-1\). For a finite abelian group \(G\) and a finite subset \(A\subseteq\mathbb Z\), the Davenport constant \(D_A(G)\) of \(G\) with weight \(A\) is the smallest number \(k\) such that for any sequence \((x_1,\dots, x_k)\) of \(k\) elements in \(G\), there exists a non-empty subsequence \((x_{j_1},\dots, x_{j_r})\) and \(a_1,\dots, a_r\in A\) such that \[ \sum^r_{i=1} a_i x_{j_i}= 0. \] Hereby one assumes that the weight set \(A\) is non-empty and does not contain 0. Similarly, for any such \(A\) and an Abelian group \(G\) with \(|G|= n\), the constant \(E_A(G)\) is the smallest number \(k\) such that any sequence \((x_1,\dots,x_k)\) of \(k\) elements in \(G\), there exists \(x_{j_1},\dots, x_{j_n}\) such that \[ \sum^n_{i=1} a_i x_{j_i}= 0\qquad (a_i\in A). \] When \(G\) is the cyclic group \(\mathbb Z/n\mathbb Z\), then \(E_A(G)\) and \(D_A(G)\) are denoted by \(E_A(n)\) and \(D_A(n)\), respectively. In this note a new proof of the following is given: Theorem: Whenever the weight set \(A\) satisfies \(|A|\geq 2\) it is \(E_A(p)= D_A(p)+ p- 1\). Further a new proof is given of a result of \textit{S. D. Adhikari} and \textit{P. Rath} [Integers 6, Paper A30, 6 p., electronic only (2006; Zbl 1107.11018)].