Solution (source code)

= Solution

A <bounded-size transversal kernel> gives a <finite intersection witness for cross-intersecting families>, even when the two <set families> are infinite. We first prove the kernel statement: for any <set family> $\mathcal F$ whose members have size at most $r$, and any integer $s\geq0$, there is a finite <subset> $\mathcal F_0\subseteq\mathcal F$ with
$$
|\mathcal F_0|\leq M(r,s):=\sum_{j=0}^{s}r^j
$$
such that every <set> $H$ of size at most $s$ is a <hitting set> for $\mathcal F_0$ if and only if it is a <hitting set> for $\mathcal F$.

Use <mathematical induction> on $s$. If $\mathcal F$ is empty, take $\mathcal F_0=\varnothing$. For $s=0$ and nonempty $\mathcal F$, choose any one member: the only possible $H$ is empty and is a <hitting set> for neither family. For the induction step, choose $A_0\in\mathcal F$. For each $x\in A_0$ apply the inductive statement to
$$
\mathcal F_x=\{A\in\mathcal F:x\notin A\}
$$
with parameter $s-1$, obtaining $\mathcal F_{x,0}$. Put $\mathcal F_0=\{A_0\}\cup\bigcup_{x\in A_0}\mathcal F_{x,0}$. Its size is at most $1+rM(r,s-1)=M(r,s)$. If $H$ is a <hitting set> for $\mathcal F_0$, choose $x\in H\cap A_0$. Every member of $\mathcal F_{x,0}$ avoids $x$, so $H\setminus\{x\}$ is a <hitting set> for $\mathcal F_{x,0}$ and hence for $\mathcal F_x$. Members of $\mathcal F$ containing $x$ already meet $H$. Thus $H$ is a <hitting set> for all of $\mathcal F$. The reverse implication follows from inclusion. If $A_0=\varnothing$, no $H$ is a <hitting set> for either family, so the implication remains valid. This finite branching proof never assumes $\mathcal F$ is finite.

Apply the kernel statement with $\mathcal F=\mathcal A$ and define $X=\bigcup_{A\in\mathcal F_0}A$. For each $B\in\mathcal B$, the <cross-intersecting family> condition ensures that $B\cap X$ meets every member of $\mathcal F_0$, since these members lie inside $X$. As $|B\cap X|\leq s$, it therefore meets every $A\in\mathcal A$. We obtain
$$
\boxed{A\cap B\cap X\ne\varnothing\quad\text{for every }A\in\mathcal A,\ B\in\mathcal B,\qquad |X|\leq r\sum_{j=0}^{s}r^j.}
$$
In particular, a positive-integer-valued choice valid whether or not $0\in\mathbb N$ is
$$
\boxed{f(r,s)=1+r\sum_{j=0}^{s}r^j.}
$$
Here the constant term of the sum is $1$, including when $r=0$. If either <set family> is empty, $X=\varnothing$ suffices. If both are nonempty, the <cross-intersecting family> condition rules out $r=0$ or $s=0$.