Wiki
Wiki

Research notes on every problem, and a library of the papers behind them. Built from the open erdos repository.

Updated


Source: arXiv v2, p. 5, Lemma 3.2 and its proof.

Statement

For x∈Z/QZx\in\mathbb Z/Q\mathbb Z and 1≤j≤J1\le j\le J,

αj(x)≤∑r=1νj ∑g∣Qj−1∑1≤i≤ndi=gpjr1x⊆ai+gZpjr.(1)\alpha_j(x)\le \sum_{r=1}^{\nu_j}\ \sum_{g\mid Q_{j-1}}\quad \sum_{\substack{1\le i\le n\\d_i=gp_j^r}} \frac{\mathbf1_{x\subseteq a_i+g\mathbb Z}}{p_j^r}. \tag{1}

Here x=c+QZ⊆ai+gZx=c+Q\mathbb Z\subseteq a_i+g\mathbb Z means c≡ai(modg)c\equiv a_i\pmod g.

Full proof

Write x=c+QZx=c+Q\mathbb Z. Since ∣Fj−1(x)∣=Q/Qj−1|F_{j-1}(x)|=Q/Q_{j-1}, the union bound gives

αj(x)≤Qj−1Q∑1≤i≤nP+(di)=pj∑a(modQ)a≡c(modQj−1)a≡ai(moddi)1.(2)\alpha_j(x)\le\frac{Q_{j-1}}Q \sum_{\substack{1\le i\le n\\P^+(d_i)=p_j}} \sum_{\substack{a\pmod Q\\a\equiv c\pmod {Q_{j-1}}\\ a\equiv a_i\pmod {d_i}}}1. \tag{2}

For every index in (2), factor uniquely

di=gpjr,g∣Qj−1,1≤r≤νj.d_i=gp_j^r, \qquad g\mid Q_{j-1}, \qquad 1\le r\le\nu_j.

The two congruences in the inner sum are compatible exactly when

c≡ai(modgcd⁡(Qj−1,di))=ai(modg).(3)c\equiv a_i\pmod{\gcd(Q_{j-1},d_i)} =a_i\pmod g. \tag{3}

Condition (3) is precisely the indicator condition in (1). When it holds, the combined congruence has modulus

[Qj−1,di]=Qj−1pjr,[Q_{j-1},d_i]=Q_{j-1}p_j^r,

so it has Q/(Qj−1pjr)Q/(Q_{j-1}p_j^r) solutions modulo QQ. Multiplying this count by the prefactor Qj−1/QQ_{j-1}/Q in (2) leaves pj−rp_j^{-r}. Summing over r,g,ir,g,i proves (1).

In the displayed regrouping on source p. 5, the prefactor is printed as Qj−1/QjQ_{j-1}/Q_j rather than the unchanged Qj−1/QQ_{j-1}/Q, and the following compatibility sentence says modulo did_i rather than modulo gg. The count in the next sentence and the lemma's stated bound require exactly the corrected relations (2)--(3). These are compilation corrections, not an author-issued erratum.