Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2001/iii/paper-76/3/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2001 iii Paper 76 3 i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The sumset form of Plünnecke's inequality states: for nonempty finite sets in an abelian group, if , there is a nonempty such thatHere . The same can be used for every . This sumset statement follows from an elementary minimal-growth argument.
Choose minimizing among nonempty subsets of . Then and for every , including the empty set. We prove the Petridis minimal-growth lemmafor each finite set . Enumerate . Put and defineThe disjoint new contributions to have sizes , so . For , the point was already present in , hence . Consequently the new contribution at stage to has size at mostSumming proves the lemma. Starting with and then taking gives inductively , proving the stated Plünnecke inequality.
New to topics? Read the docs here!