On A ⊆ [N] Such That ab + 1 Is Never Squarefree for a, b ∈ A

Mehtaab Sawhney

For sufficiently large N, Sawhney bounds the size of A⊂[N] with ab+1 nonsquarefree for every a,b∈A by the size of the residue class 7 mod 25, and identifies the extremal 7 and possibly 18 mod 25 classes. The model-origin part is a squarefree-density sieve with prime exclusions depending on b and the progression difference.

Sources for this record

What was already known

Van Doorn, Weisenberg and Cambie had made substantial progress and supplied a preliminary sieve lemma. Their result did not reach Sawhney’s exact extremal density and structure.

AI involvement AI-centered

ChatGPT 5 Pro suggested the retained sieve lemma and b-dependent exclusions. Sawhney checked the lemma, found counterexamples to stronger model claims and completed the extremal proof.

The model supplied a retained additional sieve lemma and a useful cross-sieving direction; Sawhney completed and corrected the argument.

Importance Notable

The result settles the asymptotic extremal size and structure in this named number-theory problem.

Limitations

Sawhney rejected incorrect model attempts to rule out two positive-density residue classes; the final cross-sieving and numerical bounds are his work.

Technical verification Formal (human)

Sawhney gives a complete human proof of Lemma 2.2 and Proposition 1.1, explicitly tests and rejects the model's false branches, and records the numerical constants used in the final bound. This is source-reported author checking of the assessed AI lemma and its role, not an independent AIProofWatch reproduction.

Formal checking

Written proof, correction of model counterarguments using a modulo-169 example, and explicit numerical inequality review

Checker
Mehtaab Sawhney, author
Scope
The retained Lemma 2.2 sieve and the resulting extremal bound in Proposition 1.1
Basis
Reported by the linked checker
Evidence source

Checking a formal statement does not establish that it matches the original problem.

Human understanding Full

Sawhney explains why b-dependent exclusions make the sieve work and how a point in the alternate class bounds both residue classes, including why the model's stronger claim failed.

Correction and publication history

2026-10-18 · publication

The result settles the asymptotic extremal size and structure in this named number-theory problem.

Read this published revision