On the maximum number of integer colourings with forbidden monochromatic sums

Abstract

Let $f(n,r)$ denote the maximum number of colourings of $A \subseteq \lbrace 1,\ldots,n\rbrace$ with $r$ colours such that each colour class is sum-free. Here, a sum is a subset $\lbrace x,y,z\rbrace$ such that $x+y=z$. We show that $f(n,2) = 2^{\lceil n/2\rceil}$, and describe the extremal subsets. Further, using linear optimisation, we asymptotically determine the logarithm of $f(n,r)$ for $r \leq 5$. Similar results were obtained by H\`an and Jim\'enez in the setting of finite abelian groups.