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Problem packetResearch packetR1178

R1178Sourced evidence

Current status and unresolved remainder

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Authored summary

OPEN as of 2026-07-31. The maintained Erdős Problems database at commit 8138974387d9030542daabe67faaa33eff9356f8 lists Problem 1 as open. The unresolved remainder is the full displayed statement. Give a rigorous proof or counterexample that completely resolves this statement: Erdős Problem 1: A finite set of real numbers $A$ is said to be a sum-distinct set for $N \in \mathbb{N}$ if $A \subseteq (0, N]$ and the subset sums $\sum_{a \in S} a$ differ by at least $1$ for all distinct subsets $S \subseteq A$. That is, for any two distinct subsets $S_1, S_2 \subseteq A$, we have $1 \leq |\sum_{a \in S_1} a - \sum_{a \in S_2} a|$. Determine whether there exists a positive real constant $C$ such that for every nonzero natural number $N$ and every finite set $A \subseteq (0, N]$ that is sum-distinct for $N$, the inequality $C \cdot 2^{|A|} < N$ holds.

The record cites sources for its explanation.

Recorded status: reported

Recorded scope: No scope is recorded.

Originating problem: Erdős's sum-distinct set problem for real numbers

Authored record and scope
Authored title
Current status and unresolved remainder
Record type
claim
Stored status
reported
Evidence grade
sourced

2Authored explanation

OPEN as of 2026-07-31. The maintained Erdős Problems database at commit 8138974387d9030542daabe67faaa33eff9356f8 lists Problem 1 as open. The unresolved remainder is the full displayed statement.

A complete resolution must satisfy this condition: Give a rigorous proof or counterexample that completely resolves this statement: Erdős Problem 1: A finite set of real numbers $A$ is said to be a sum-distinct set for $N \in \mathbb{N}$ if $A \subseteq (0, N]$ and the subset sums $\sum_{a \in S} a$ differ by at least $1$ for all distinct subsets $S \subseteq A$. That is, for any two distinct subsets $S_1, S_2 \subseteq A$, we have $1 \leq |\sum_{a \in S_1} a - \sum_{a \in S_2} a|$. Determine whether there exists a positive real constant $C$ such that for every nonzero natural number $N$ and every finite set $A \subseteq (0, N]$ that is sum-distinct for $N$, the inequality $C \cdot 2^{|A|} < N$ holds.

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Replay material: source only

3Evidence

Replay package: source only

A verification source is cited. This record has no executable replay attached.

Verification source: www.erdosproblems.com ↗, See dataset.references[0] for the exact external source and locator.

4How it connects

Addressed by

Recorded for

Machine-readable record

Copy the structured record when continuing this work with an agent.

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  "ref": "R1178",
  "content_hash": null,
  "slug": "erdos-problem-1-claim-status-20260731",
  "type": "claim",
  "title": "Current status and unresolved remainder",
  "summary": "OPEN as of 2026-07-31. The maintained Erdős Problems database at commit 8138974387d9030542daabe67faaa33eff9356f8 lists Problem 1 as open. The unresolved remainder is the full displayed statement. Give a rigorous proof or counterexample that completely resolves this statement: Erdős Problem 1: A finite set of real numbers $A$ is said to be a sum-distinct set for $N \\in \\mathbb{N}$ if $A \\subseteq (0, N]$ and the subset sums $\\sum_{a \\in S} a$ differ by at least $1$ for all distinct subsets $S \\subseteq A$. That is, for any two distinct subsets $S_1, S_2 \\subseteq A$, we have $1 \\leq |\\sum_{a \\in S_1} a - \\sum_{a \\in S_2} a|$. Determine whether there exists a positive real constant $C$ such that for every nonzero natural number $N$ and every finite set $A \\subseteq (0, N]$ that is sum-distinct for $N$, the inequality $C \\cdot 2^{|A|} < N$ holds.",
  "relevance": "For erdos problem 1, pins the dated research frontier: OPEN as of 2026-07-31. The maintained Erdős Problems database at commit 8138974387d9030542daabe67faaa33eff9356f8 lists Problem 1 as open. The unresolved remainder is the full displayed statement. Give a rigorous proof or counterexample that completely resolves this statement: Erdős Problem 1: A.",
  "relevance_source": "recorded",
  "body": "OPEN as of 2026-07-31. The maintained Erdős Problems database at commit 8138974387d9030542daabe67faaa33eff9356f8 lists Problem 1 as open. The unresolved remainder is the full displayed statement.\n\nA complete resolution must satisfy this condition: Give a rigorous proof or counterexample that completely resolves this statement: Erdős Problem 1: A finite set of real numbers $A$ is said to be a sum-distinct set for $N \\in \\mathbb{N}$ if $A \\subseteq (0, N]$ and the subset sums $\\sum_{a \\in S} a$ differ by at least $1$ for all distinct subsets $S \\subseteq A$. That is, for any two distinct subsets $S_1, S_2 \\subseteq A$, we have $1 \\leq |\\sum_{a \\in S_1} a - \\sum_{a \\in S_2} a|$. Determine whether there exists a positive real constant $C$ such that for every nonzero natural number $N$ and every finite set $A \\subseteq (0, N]$ that is sum-distinct for $N$, the inequality $C \\cdot 2^{|A|} < N$ holds.",
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  "reproduction": {
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    "kind": "claim",
    "citation": {
      "url": "https://www.erdosproblems.com/1",
      "locator": "See dataset.references[0] for the exact external source and locator."
    },
    "missing": [
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      "command",
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  },
  "formal_statement": null,
  "source": {
    "url": "https://www.erdosproblems.com/1",
    "locator": "See dataset.references[0] for the exact external source and locator."
  },
  "models": [],
  "continuation": null,
  "relations": [
    {
      "slug": "R1177",
      "title": "Resolve the stated acceptance condition",
      "object_type": "attempt",
      "relation": "addresses",
      "direction": "incoming"
    },
    {
      "slug": "erdos-problem-1",
      "title": "erdos problem 1",
      "object_type": "problem",
      "relation": "recorded_for",
      "direction": "outgoing"
    }
  ]
}

6Provenance

View source, identifiers, and projection details

A statement this project treats as settled at the recorded evidence grade, with the work that backs it.

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