Is it possible to partition the set of positive integer numbers into two classes, none of which contains an infinite arithmetic sequence (with a positive ratio)?
What if we require the extra condition that, in each class of the partition, the set of differences
be bounded?
, 2011
Solution
It is easy to exhibit such a partition: set
Since each class has arbitrarily large gaps, it cannot contain an infinite arithmetic sequence.
To exhibit such a partition for the further question, we will rely on building a bijection that will allow us to "destroy" every single infinite arithmetic progression, within each of the two partition classes. Take any bijection
Define for ; these are all possible infinite arithmetic progressions made of positive integers. At step , both classes are empty. Denote by the next value to be distributed in the sets of the partition, so at step take . Now proceed in an algorithmic way.
At step , let be . There exists a least such that . Put alternatively in , starting with the one having the least maximum. If this ends with , then take ; if not, then force and put in the other class, then take . Continue with the next step .
This ensures that neither of the arithmetic progressions will be contained in any of the two classes , while the differences between pairs of consecutive elements within each class is at most .