Convexity of Distinct Sum Sets

Abstract

We study a combinatorial notion where given a set S of lattice points one takes the set of all sums of p distinct points in S, and we ask the question: ‘if S is the set of lattice points of a convex lattice polytope, is the resulting set also the set of lattice points of a convex lattice polytope?’ We obtain a positive result in dimension 2 and a negative result in higher dimensions. We apply this to the corner cut polyhedron.