Unsolved Problems
Showing 1-50 of 50 problems
Large Sum-Free Sets
Let $A$ be a set of $n$ positive integers. Does $A$ contain a sum-free set of size at least $n/3 + \Omega(n)$, where $\Omega(n) \to \infty$ as $n \to ...
Restricted Sumset Problem
Let $A \subset \mathbb{Z}$ be a set of $n$ integers. Is there a subset $S \subset A$ of size $(\log n)^{100}$ such that $S \hat{+} S$ is disjoint from...
Product-Free Sets in Finite Groups
Which finite groups have the smallest largest product-free sets?...
Almost Sum-Free Sets
Suppose that $A \subset [N]$ has no more than $\varepsilon N^2$ solutions to $x + y = z$. Can one remove $\varepsilon' N$ elements to leave a sum-free...
Progressions in Subsets of Z/NZ
Is $r_5(N) \ll N(\log N)^{-c}$? Is $r_4(\mathbb{F}_5^n) \ll N^{1-c}$ where $N = 5^n$?...
Tuples in Dense Sets
Let $G$ be an abelian group of size $N$, and suppose that $A \subset G$ has density $\alpha$. Are there at least $\alpha^{15}N^{10}$ tuples $(x_1, \ld...
4-term APs in Fourier Uniform Sets
Suppose that $A \subset \mathbb{Z}/N\mathbb{Z}$ has density $\alpha$ and is Fourier uniform (all Fourier coefficients of $1_A - \alpha$ are $o(N)$). D...
Progressions in F_3^n with Boolean Common Differences
Suppose that $A \subset \mathbb{F}_3^n$ is a set of density $\alpha$. Under what conditions on $\alpha$ is $A$ guaranteed to contain a 3-term progress...
Multidimensional Szemerédi Theorem Bounds
Find reasonable bounds for instances of the multidimensional Szemerédi theorem....
Large Cosets in Iterated Sumsets
Suppose that $A \subset \mathbb{F}_2^n$ has density $\alpha$. Does $10A$ contain a coset of some subspace of dimension at least $n - O(\log(1/\alpha))...
Additive Complements and Cosets
Suppose that $A \subset \mathbb{F}_2^n$ has an additive complement of size $K$. Does $2A$ contain a coset of codimension $O_K(1)$?...
Partitions and Large Cosets
Suppose that $\mathbb{F}_2^n$ is partitioned into sets $A_1, \dots, A_K$. Does $2A_i$ contain a coset of codimension $O_K(1)$ for some $i$?...
Gowers Box Norms over Finite Fields
Let $p$ be an odd prime and suppose $f : \mathbb{F}_p^n \times \mathbb{F}_p^n \to \mathbb{C}$ is bounded pointwise by 1. Suppose $\mathbb{E}_h \|\Delt...
Inverse Theorem for Gowers Norms
Determine bounds for the inverse theorem for Gowers norms....
Sums of Smooth Numbers
Is every $n \leq N$ the sum of two integers, all of whose prime factors are at most $N^\varepsilon$?...
Sumsets of Perfect Squares
Is there an absolute constant $c > 0$ such that if $A \subset \mathbb{N}$ is a set of squares of size at least 2, then $|A + A| \geq |A|^{1+c}$?...
Products of Primes Modulo p
Let $p$ be a large prime, and let $A$ be the set of all primes less than $p$. Is every $x \in \{1, \dots, p-1\}$ congruent to some product $a_1a_2$ mo...
Multiplicatively Closed Set Density
Let $A$ be the smallest set containing 2 and 3, and closed under the operation $a_1a_2 - 1$ (if $a_1, a_2 \in A$, then $a_1a_2 - 1 \in A$). Does $A$ h...
Gaps Between Sums of Two Squares
Is there always a sum of two squares between $X - \frac{1}{10}X^{1/4}$ and $X$?...
Waring's Problem Over Finite Fields
Determine bounds for Waring's problem over finite fields....
Cubic Curves in F_p^2
Suppose $A \subset \mathbb{F}_p^2$ is a set meeting every line in at most 2 points. Is it true that all except $o(p)$ points of $A$ lie on a cubic cur...
Collinear Triples and Cubic Curves
Fix $k$. Let $A \subset \mathbb{R}^2$ be a set of $n$ points with no more than $k$ on any line. Suppose at least $\delta n^2$ pairs $(x, y) \in A \tim...
No Three in Line in [N]^2
What is the largest subset of the grid $[N]^2$ with no three points on a line? In particular, for $N$ sufficiently large, is it impossible to have a s...
Smooth Surfaces Intersecting 2-planes
Let $\Gamma$ be a smooth codimension 2 surface in $\mathbb{R}^n$. Must $\Gamma$ intersect some 2-dimensional plane in 5 points, if $n$ is sufficiently...
Small Triangles in the Unit Disc
Given $n$ points in the unit disc, must there be a triangle of area at most $n^{-2+o(1)}$ determined by them?...
Random Permutations Fixing k-Sets
Let $p(k)$ be the limit as $n \to \infty$ of the probability that a random permutation on $[n]$ preserves some set of size $k$. Is $p(k)$ a decreasing...
Stable Density on Subspaces
Let $A \subset \mathbb{F}_2^n$. If $V$ is a subspace, write $\alpha(V)$ for the density of $A$ on $V$. Is there some $V$ of moderately small codimensi...
Almost Invariant Sets Under Affine Maps
Suppose $A \subset \mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}$ has density $\frac{1}{2}$. Under what conditions on $K$ can $A$ be almost invariant under all maps $\phi(x)...
Trace Reconstruction
Given a string $x \in \{0, 1\}^n$, let $\tilde{x}$ be obtained by deleting bits independently at random with probability $\frac{1}{2}$. How many indep...
Irreducibility of Random {0,1} Polynomials
Is a random polynomial with coefficients in $\{0, 1\}$ and nonzero constant term almost surely irreducible?...
Bounds for Birch's Theorem
Let $d \geq 3$ be odd. Give bounds on $\nu(d)$ such that if $n > \nu(d)$ then any homogeneous polynomial $F(\mathbf{x}) \in \mathbb{Z}[x_1, \dots, x_n...
Solutions to Polynomial Equations in Dense Sets
Finding a single solution to $F(x_1, \dots, x_n) = C$ can be very difficult. What conditions on $A$ ensure that the number of solutions in $A$ is roug...
Rado's Boundedness Conjecture
Suppose $a_1, \dots, a_k$ are integers which do not satisfy Rado's condition. Is $c(a_1, \dots, a_k)$ bounded in terms of $k$ only?...
Restricted Sumsets in Partitions
For which values of $k$ is the following true: whenever we partition $[N] = A_1 \cup \dots \cup A_k$, we have $|\bigcup_{i=1}^k (A_i \hat{+} A_i)| \ge...
Sum of Cubes in F_3^n
Let $A_1, \dots, A_{100}$ be "cubes" in $\mathbb{F}_3^n$ (images of $\{0, 1\}^n$ under linear automorphisms). Is $A_1 + \dots + A_{100} = \mathbb{F}_3...
Sets with No Unique Sum Representations
What is the size of the smallest set $A \subset \mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}$ (with at least two elements) for which no element in the sumset $A + A$ has a ...
Large Subsets of Approximate Groups
Suppose $A$ is a $K$-approximate group (not necessarily abelian). Is there $S \subset A$ with $|S| \gg K^{-O(1)}|A|$ and $S^8 \subset A^4$?...
Structured Subsets with Bounded Doubling
Given a set $A \subset \mathbb{Z}$ with $D(A) \leq K$, find a large structured subset $A'$ which "obviously" has $D(A') \leq K + \varepsilon$....
Sidon Set Size Bounds
Write $F(N)$ for the largest Sidon subset of $[N]$. Improve, at least for infinitely many $N$, the bounds $N^{1/2} + O(1) \leq F(N) \leq N^{1/2} + N^{...
Optimal Sidon Bases
Are there infinitely many $q$ for which there is a set $A \subset \mathbb{Z}/q\mathbb{Z}$ with $|A| = (\sqrt{2} + o(1))q^{1/2}$ and $A + A = \mathbb{Z...
Disjoint Sumsets Construction
For arbitrarily large $n$, does there exist an abelian group $H$ with $|H| = n^{2+o(1)}$ and subsets $A_1, \dots, A_n, B_1, \dots, B_n$ satisfying $|A...
Cap Sets in F_7^n
What is the largest subset $A \subset \mathbb{F}_7^n$ for which $A - A$ intersects $\{-1, 0, 1\}^n$ only at 0?...
Hamming Ball Covering Growth
Let $r$ be fixed and let $H(r)$ be the Hamming ball of radius $r$ in $\mathbb{F}_2^n$. Let $f(r)$ be the smallest constant such that there exist infin...
Cohn-Elkies Scheme for Circle Packings
Can the Cohn-Elkies scheme be used to prove the optimal bound for circle-packings?...
Maximal Covering Interval
What is the largest $y$ for which one may cover the interval $[y]$ by residue classes $a_p \pmod p$, one for each prime $p \leq x$?...
Random Walk Mixing on Alternating Groups
Pick $x_1, \dots, x_k \in A_n$ at random. Is it true that, almost surely as $n \to \infty$, the random walk on this set of generators and their invers...
Bounds for Approximate Group Classification
Find bounds in the classification theorem for approximate groups....
Bounds for Homogeneous Polynomial Zeros
Let $d \geq 3$ be an odd integer. Give bounds on $\nu(d)$ such that if $n > \nu(d)$ the following is true: given any homogeneous polynomial $F(\mathbf...
Polynomial Solutions in Dense Sets
Finding a single solution to a polynomial equation $F(x_1, \dots, x_n) = C$ can be very difficult. What conditions on $A$ ensure that the number of su...
Sofic Groups
Is every group well-approximated by finite groups?...