Arithmetic Properties of Periodic Maps

Abstract

Let $ψ_1,...,ψ_k$ be periodic maps from $\Bbb Z$ to a field of characteristic p (where p is zero or a prime). Assume that positive integers $n_1,...,n_k$ not divisible by p are their periods respectively. We show that $ψ_1+...+ψ_k$ is constant if $ψ_1(x)+...+ψ_k(x)$ equals a constant for |S| consecutive integers x where S={r/n_s: r=0,...,n_s-1; s=1,...,k}. We also present some new results on finite systems of arithmetic sequences.

10 pages; accepted by Math. Res. Lett. Also available from http://pweb.nju.edu.cn/zwsun