GPT-6 Astra proves a superlogarithmic bound for Erdős Problem 126

Let f(n) be the minimum number of distinct prime divisors among pairwise sums of any n-element subset of positive integers. The compared theorem proves f(n)/log n→∞. Separate Lean resolutions give stronger polynomial lower bounds, including a square-root bound.

Sources for this record

What was already known

Erdős and Turán proved a logarithmic lower bound. Erdős asked whether the minimum grows faster than log n; the consecutive-integer construction gives an upper bound of order n/log n.

AI involvement AI-autonomous

GPT-6 Astra found the argument and wrote Lean code in a network-isolated run without human mathematical steering. Adamczewski packaged the repository; Bloom later sketched three proof routes.

Benchmark and repository document no human guidance during the model proof search.

Importance Notable

The compared theorem resolves the qualitative superlogarithmic question.

Limitations

Only the qualitative limit has a documented statement-matched Lean check; the stronger polynomial bounds are separate resolutions. Bloom’s sketch is not a documented complete check.

Technical verification Formal (Lean 4 with Mathlib and Comparator)

Source-reported Lean build and Comparator match to the trusted challenge in a pristine environment; no broader informal theorem is silently inferred.

Formal checking

compiled proof, trusted statement comparison, and standard-axiom check

Checker
Lean 4 kernel and FrontierMath Erdős Comparator
Scope
Problem #126 compared theorem
Basis
Reported by the linked checker
Evidence source

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

Human understanding Partial

The high-level mechanisms are described, but the distinct alternate proofs have not been fully digested in human accounts.

Correction and publication history