Conjecture · version 1

The near-linear unit-distance conjecture

Statement

For every ε>0\varepsilon>0 there is N such that every finite set P of n ≥ N distinct Euclidean planar points determines at most n1+εn^{1+\varepsilon} unordered unit-distance pairs.

Assumptions

  • The usual Euclidean norm on ℝ².
  • Pairs are unordered and the two points are distinct.

Scope

The near-linear asymptotic assertion is refuted; this does not determine the exact maximum.

Evidence

Source reports

Connections

In this problem · publication v6

Erdős unit-distance problem →

Primary formulation · Disproved

Relationship not independently reviewed. This concerns its use in this problem.

Sources

Erdős problem 90: unit distances →

  • Problem 90; historical question and background → · Original passage ↗
    Recorded wording

    The maintained problem entry records the near-linear upper-bound question, its 1946 origin and the 2026 disproof, while retaining the unresolved extremal growth question.

    paraphrase · OpenMath supplies its own mathematical paraphrases and links; proof text is not republished.

Erdős Problems · Project documentation

Revision & attribution

Source revision: Observed 2026-10-13. Observed Oct 13, 2026.

No specific AI contribution is attributed by this source record.

Planar Point Sets with Many Unit Distances →

  • Theorem 1.1 and Statement on AI Use → · Original passage ↗
    Recorded wording

    Theorem 1.1 constructs arbitrarily large planar sets with a fixed positive exponent gain in their unordered unit-distance count.

    paraphrase · OpenMath supplies its own mathematical paraphrases and links; proof text is not republished.

OpenAI · Preprint · Publication date May 20, 2026

Revision & attribution

Source revision: 2026-05-20. Observed Oct 13, 2026.

The manuscript credits an internal OpenAI model with the original argument; subsequent human editing and external mathematical checking are separate roles.

Remarks on the Disproof of the Unit Distance Conjecture →

  • Theorem 1.1; Sections 1.1–1.3 and 2 → · Original passage ↗
    Recorded wording

    The companion paper provides a human-digested argument and background for the exponent gain, including the classical upper bound.

    paraphrase · OpenMath supplies its own mathematical paraphrases and links; proof text is not republished.

Noga Alon · Thomas F. Bloom · W. T. Gowers · Daniel Litt · Will Sawin · Arul Shankar · Jacob Tsimerman · Victor Wang · Melanie Matchett Wood · Preprint · Publication date May 20, 2026

Revision & attribution

Source revision: 2026-05-20. Observed Oct 13, 2026.

The mathematical starting point is attributed to OpenAI’s model; the nine named authors supply exposition, checking, simplification and context.

History

Statement versions

Statement versions and problem publication versions are separate. A new publication can update context or sources while retaining the same statement.

Assessment history · 1

Assessments retained in these publication records. Earlier statement versions retain their own source histories.

Record details
Claim ID
claim-unit-distances-near-linear
Statement version
1
SHA-256
3288d5618e8dfdc4231e9cd82488e7d30bdaf31cd79a619abf3d554cb12bfc80

Publication records