If a dense set has too few four-term arithmetic progressions, its balanced function has large norm. A Frequency graph extracted from a large Gowers U3 norm, followed by the Balog-Szemerédi-Gowers theorem and a Freiman theorem, yields correlation with a quadratic phase. Restricting to a suitable level set gives a density increment, and iteration proves the Finite-field Szemerédi theorem for four-term arithmetic progressions.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 iii Paper 129 4 iii Solution 2026-09-28
Put . By the Derivative identity for the Gowers U3 norm, the Fourier formula for the norm, and Parseval identity,because . Letand for every choose attaining . Thenfor every , and deleting the complement of from the preceding average leaves total mass at least .
Let . The box-norm inequality applied to the selected Fourier coefficients and the cocycle identity for multiplicative derivatives givesThe left side is at least . An additive quadruple in is exactly a tuple satisfyingTherefore there are at least such quadruples, which is the Frequency graph extracted from a large Gowers U3 norm.