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Source. Published pp. 350 and 362, compressed infinite-set extensions (published scan).

Statement. Fix integers d,m≥1d,m\ge1 and a set K⊆RdK\subseteq\mathbb R^d. If KK is not contained in a union of at most mm concentric spheres, some finite subset already has this property. Radii zero are allowed; unused spheres may be repeated.

Complete proof. Let VV be the finite-dimensional vector space of real polynomials in dd variables of total degree at most 2m2m. Each x∈Kx\in K defines an evaluation functional ex∈V∗e_x\in V^*. Select finitely many points S⊆KS\subseteq K whose evaluation functionals form a basis for the span of all exe_x, x∈Kx\in K. Then every polynomial in VV vanishing on SS also vanishes on KK.

If SS lay on concentric spheres with center aa and radii r1,…,rm≥0r_1,\ldots,r_m\ge0, the polynomial

P(X)=∏j=1m(∥X−a∥2−rj2)P(X)=\prod_{j=1}^m\bigl(\|X-a\|^2-r_j^2\bigr)

would lie in VV and vanish on SS. It would therefore vanish at every x∈Kx\in K, placing KK on the same union of spheres. The contrapositive proves the assertion.

Containment in a higher-dimensional ambient space does not change this property. Project a common center orthogonally onto the affine hull of the configuration. Every squared distance decreases by the same squared projection length; for each sphere actually meeting the configuration the remaining squared radius is nonnegative. Thus at most mm concentric spheres in the original affine hull still contain the configuration. Congruence transports the assertion by the affine Gram isometry. □\square

This finite-dimensional polynomial argument supplies the finite-witness step that the source calls immediate. It does not assert that an infinite Ramsey set exists or extend the finite-product theorem to infinite factors.

Bears on. #174.