Problem:
A set of irrational real numbers has the property that among any subset of five numbers in , one can find two with irrational sum. How large can be?
Problem:
A set of irrational real numbers has the property that among any subset of five numbers in , one can find two with irrational sum. How large can be?
Solution:
The answer is . An example is (and any of its subsets).
In general, construct a graph with vertex set in which we join two numbers with rational sum. We claim this graph is bipartite; indeed if are all rational for some odd , solving the resulting system of equations gives , , all rational numbers.
Accordingly we may 2-color . If , then we may find a set of five numbers with rational sum, as desired.