OFFSET
0,2
COMMENTS
The set U(1,X) can be defined as follows: it is the unique set of linear integer polynomials such that 1,X are the two smallest elements; for any interval [P,Q] where P,Q are linear integer polynomials, U(1,X) intersect [P,Q] has a minimum and a maximum; and finally, an element u > X is in U(1,X) if and only if it is the smallest element larger than the maximum of U(1,X) intersect [1,u - 1] and which can be written as a sum of two distinct elements in U(1,X) in exactly one way.
U(1,X) can be written uniquely as a union of intervals [a_i X + b_i, c_i X + d_i], where c_i X + d_i + 1 < a_{i + 1} X + b_{i + 1} for all indices i. Here, we give just the coefficients c_i.
This set is related to Ulam sequences in an odd way. Let U(1,n) be the sequence of integers starting with 1,n such that every subsequent term is the next smallest element that can be written as the sum of two distinct prior terms in exactly one way. Then, for all integers k, for all sufficiently large n, U(1,n) intersect [1,c_k n + d_k + 1] = eval_n(U(1,X) intersect [1,c_k X + d_k + 1]), where eval_n is the evaluation map sending X to n.
It is conjectured that for all k and n > 3, U(1,n) intersect [1,c_k n + d_k + 1] = eval_n(U(1,X) intersect [1,c_k X + d_k + 1]). At the time of writing, this had been checked up to k = 217529.
U(1,X) can also be defined model-theoretically, as follows. Let *Z denote the hyper-integers. The sequence of sets U(1,n) indexed over positive integers has a unique extension to a sequence of sets indexed over positive hyper-integers. Take any positive non-standard integer H, and consider the corresponding set U(1,H) in this sequence. Then the intersection of U(1,H) with the set of integer polynomials in H will be isomorphic to U(1,X).
REFERENCES
J. Hinman, B. Kuca, A. Schlesinger, and A. Sheydvasser, The Unreasonable Rigidity of Ulam Sequences, J. Number Theory, 194 (2019), 409-425.
A. Sheydvasser, The Ulam Sequence of the Integer Polynomial Ring, J. Integer Seq., accepted.
LINKS
J. Hinman, B. Kuca, A. Schlesinger, and A. Sheydvasser, The Unreasonable Rigidity of Ulam Sequences, arXiv:1711.00145 [math.NT], 2017.
EXAMPLE
The first four intervals of U(1,X) are [1,1], [X,2X], [2X + 2, 2X + 2], [4X, 4X] hence the corresponding c_i coefficients are 0,2,2,4.
CROSSREFS
KEYWORD
nonn
AUTHOR
Arseniy (Senia) Sheydvasser, Dec 27 2021
STATUS
approved