A Graphical Approach to the Frobenius Number Problem in Three Variables

Abstract

The Frobenius number for a set of relatively prime positive integers, where the smallest integer in the set is at least 2, is the largest integer that cannot be expressed as a nonnegative linear combination of those integers. We analyze the Frobenius number for three variables by analyzing the lattice points associated with the line $ax+by = ab$ and its downward parallel translations, along with each lattice point's corresponding value $ax+by$. As an application of our graphical approach, we recover key theorems such as the results from Sylvester and Selmer by reducing them to a graphical problem of locating a lattice point, followed by an evaluation of the linear form $ax+by$ there. Therefore, an arithmetic problem of finding the Frobenius number is reduced to a visual/graphical problem of locating the lattice point, followed by an evaluation, both of which are simple tasks. We then derive relatively simple formulae for the general Frobenius number of three variables. Compared to known results, our results (Theorem 5.1) are not algorithmic in nature nor intricate, which constitutes a significant improvement.