Finite–infinite separation conjecture for interval discrepancy

Let S=(I1,I2,)\mathcal{S}=(\mathcal{I}_1,\mathcal{I}_2,\dots) be an infinite-length strategy, and define

discn(S)=maxtndisc(It).\operatorname{disc}_n(\mathcal{S})=\max_{t\leq n}\operatorname{disc}(\mathcal{I}_t).

Here disc(n)\operatorname{disc}(n) is the optimal discrepancy for finite strategies of length nn. Finite–infinite separation conjecture. For any infinite-length strategy S\mathcal{S},

lim infndiscn(S)disc(n)1/n>0.\liminf_{n\to\infty}\frac{\operatorname{disc}_n(\mathcal{S})-\operatorname{disc}(n)}{1/n}>0.

If true, this would establish a positive asymptotic separation between infinite-length strategies and optimal finite-length strategies. The paper presents this as a weaker conjecture than the preceding open question about the sharper lower bound 23/(2n)O(1/n2)2-3/(2n)-O(1/n^2), and it remains open.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Jared DeLeo, Owen Henderschedt and Chris Wells, “A finite victory over de Bruijn-Erdős in interval discrepancy”, arXiv:2605.29166 (2026).

Progress summary

Never refreshed

Nothing recorded yet. Refresh searches the literature and the public web for attempts on this problem, and writes the first summary here.

Solutions 0

No solutions have been posted yet.