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Problem #335: Let $d(A)$ denote the density of $A\subseteq \mathbb{N}$

Let $d(A)$ denote the density of $A\subseteq \mathbb{N}$. Characterise those $A,B\subseteq \mathbb{N}$ with positive density such...

Problem Statement

Let $d(A)$ denote the density of $A\subseteq \mathbb{N}$. Characterise those $A,B\subseteq \mathbb{N}$ with positive density such that\[d(A+B)=d(A)+d(B).\]
Categories: Number Theory Additive Combinatorics

Progress

One way this can happen is if there exists $\theta>0$ such that\[A=\{ n>0 : \{ n\theta\} \in X_A\}\textrm{ and }B=\{ n>0 : \{n\theta\} \in X_B\}\]where $\{x\}$ denotes the fractional part of $x$ and $X_A,X_B\subseteq \mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z}$ are such that $\mu(X_A+X_B)=\mu(X_A)+\mu(X_B)$. Are all possible $A$ and $B$ generated in a similar way (using other groups)?

Source: erdosproblems.com/335 | Last verified: January 14, 2026

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