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arXiv · 1112.1929

Subset sums in abelian groups

Eric Balandraud·Benjamin Girard·Simon Griffiths·Yahya Ould Hamidoune
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Abstract

Denoting by Sigma(S) the set of subset sums of a subset S of a finite abelian group G, we prove that |Sigma(S)| >= |S|(|S|+2)/4-1 whenever S is symmetric, |G| is odd and Sigma(S) is aperiodic. Up to an additive constant of 2 this result is best possible, and we obtain the stronger (exact best possible) bound in almost all cases. We prove similar results in the case |G| is even. Our proof requires us to extend a theorem of Olson on the number of subset sums of anti-symmetric subsets S from the case of Z_p to the case of a general finite abelian group. To do so, we adapt Olson's method using a generalisation of Vosper's Theorem proved by Hamidoune and Plagne.

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Eric Balandraud, Benjamin Girard, Simon Griffiths, Yahya Ould Hamidoune. 2011-12-08. Subset sums in abelian groups. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejc.2013.05.009

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