If a rational matrix is a partition regular matrix, then for each fixed number of colors some finite integer interval already forces a monochromatic positive solution. Otherwise the solution-free finite colorings of successive intervals form a finitely branching tree with every level nonempty. The König infinity lemma gives an infinite branch, contradicting partition regularity. More generally, this argument applies to any family of configurations each using finitely many positive integers.
If a rational matrix is a partition regular matrix, every finite coloring of the positive integers admits monochromatic such that
Choose a compactness bound for partition regularity for the number of colors, put , and pull back the coloring by on . A monochromatic positive solution of gives ; then . The least common multiple guarantees that every is a positive integer.