Problem Statement
Let $F(k)$ be the minimal $N$ such that if we two-colour $\{1,\ldots,N\}$ there is a set $A$ of size $k$ such that all subset sums $\sum_{a\in S}a$ (for $\emptyset\neq S\subseteq A$) are monochromatic. Estimate $F(k)$.
Categories:
Number Theory Ramsey Theory
Progress
The existence of $F(k)$ was established by Sanders and Folkman, and it also follows from Rado's theorem. It is commonly known as Folkman's theorem.Erdős and Spencer [ErSp89] proved that\[F(k) \geq 2^{ck^2/\log k}\]for some constant $c>0$. Balogh, Eberhrad, Narayanan, Treglown, and Wagner [BENTW17] have improved this to\[F(k) \geq 2^{2^{k-1}/k}.\]
Source: erdosproblems.com/531 | Last verified: January 15, 2026