Given sets P, Q ⊆ R 2 of sizes m and n respectively, we are interested in the number of distinct distances spanned by P × Q. Let D(m, n) denote the minimum number of distances determined by sets in R 2 of sizes m and n respectively, where m ≤ n.In this work, we show that Elekes' construction is tight by deriving the lower bound of D(m, n) = Ω( √ mn) when m ≤ n 1/3 . This is done by adapting Székely's crossing number argument. We also extend the Guth and Katz analysis for the classical distinct distances problem to show a lower bound of D(m, n) = Ω( √ mn/ log n) when m ≥ n 1/3 .
Given sets $\mathcal{P}, \mathcal{Q} \subseteq \mathbb{R}^2$ of sizes $m$ and $n$ respectively, we are interested in the number of distinct distances spanned by $\mathcal{P} \times \mathcal{Q}$. Let $D(m, n)$ denote the minimum number of distances determined by sets in $\mathbb{R}^2$ of sizes $m$ and $n$ respectively, where $m \leq n$. Elekes showed that $D(m, n) = O(\sqrt{mn})$ when $m \leqslant n^{1/3}$. For $m \geqslant n^{1/3}$, we have the upper bound $D(m, n) = O(n/\sqrt{\log n})$ as in the classical distinct distances problem.In this work, we show that Elekes' construction is tight by deriving the lower bound of $D(m, n) = \Omega(\sqrt{mn})$ when $m \leqslant n^{1/3}$. This is done by adapting Székely's crossing number argument. We also extend the Guth and Katz analysis for the classical distinct distances problem to show a lower bound of $D(m, n) = \Omega(\sqrt{mn}/\log n)$ when $m \geqslant n^{1/3}$.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.