A Five Color Zero-Sum Generalization

Let g_zs(m, 2k) (g_zs(m, 2k+1)) be the minimal integer such that for any coloring Δ of the integers from 1, . . . , g_zs(m, 2k) by (the integers from 1 to g_zs(m, 2k+1) by ) there exist integers such that 1. there exists j_x such that Δ(x_i) ∈ for each i and ∑_i=1^m Δ(x_i) = 0 mod m (or Δ(x_i)=∞ for each i); 2. there exists j_y such that Δ(y_i) ∈ for each i and ∑_i=1^m Δ(y_i) = 0 mod m (or Δ(y_i)=∞ for each i); and 1. 2(x_m−x₁)≤y_m−x₁. In this note we show g_zs(m, 2)=5m−4 for m≥2, g_zs(m, 3)=7m+−6 for m≥4, g_zs(m, 4)=10m−9 for m≥3, and g_zs(m, 5)=13m−2 for m≥2. Supported by NSF grant DMS 0097317