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Erdős problem 283

Let p ⁣:ZZp\colon \mathbb{Z} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z} be a polynomial whose leading coefficient is positive and such that there exists no d2d≥2 with dp(n)d ∣ p(n) for all n1n≥1. Is it true that, for all sufficiently large mm, there exist integers 1n1<<nk1≤n_1<\dots < n_k such that 1=1n1++1nk1=\frac{1}{n_1}+\cdots+\frac{1}{n_k} and m=p(n1)++p(nk)m=p(n_1)+\cdots+p(n_k)?

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8 retained statements2415f78e850a

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FormalConjectures/ErdosProblems/

283.lean

Retained formal statement1 of 8

Let p ⁣:ZZp\colon \mathbb{Z} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z} be a polynomial whose leading coefficient is positive and such that there exists no d2d≥2 with dp(n)d ∣ p(n) for all n1n≥1. Is it true that, for all sufficiently large mm, there exist integers 1n1<<nk1≤n_1<\dots < n_k such that 1=1n1++1nk1=\frac{1}{n_1}+\cdots+\frac{1}{n_k} and m=p(n1)++p(nk)m=p(n_1)+\cdots+p(n_k)?

GPT 5.5 Pro (prompted by Price) has given a proof that the answer is yes, for the stronger version with 11 replaced by any rational α>0\alpha>0.

This was formalized in Lean by Ammanamanchi using Opus 4.6 and GPT 5.5 Pro.

FormalConjectures/ErdosProblems/283.leanErdos283.erdos_2831 lineExact file
True ↔ ∀ (p : Polynomial ℤ), Erdos283.Condition p
SolvedProof has a holeformal conjecturesexternal proof

The proof uses `sorry`: part of the argument is written but not proved. Lean accepts the file; it does not accept the theorem.

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