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Source: original paper, printed p. 539, Theorem 5.

Statement

Let S⊂RmS\subset\mathbb R^m have NN points. Suppose every subset of q=⌊N/r⌋q=\lfloor N/r\rfloor points contains a congruent copy of a given nonempty configuration KK, where r>0r>0 and 1≤q≤N1\le q\le N. Let L⊂RmL\subset\mathbb R^m have ll points with l<rl<r. Every red-blue coloring of Rm\mathbb R^m has a red congruent copy of KK or a blue translate of LL.

Full proof

Assume there is no red copy of KK. For every a∈La\in L, the translated witness a+Sa+S has fewer than qq red points. Thus fewer than qq choices of s∈Ss\in S make a+sa+s red. The union over all ll choices of aa excludes at most l(q−1)l(q-1) choices of ss. In particular,

l(q−1)≤lq≤lN/r<N.l(q-1)\le lq\le lN/r<N.

Some s∈Ss\in S is excluded by none of them. Every point of L+sL+s is blue, as required. If LL is empty, its translate is already blue and the same conclusion is immediate.

Only a finite family of bad-choice sets is counted. Distinct translates may overlap without affecting the argument. The copy of LL is a translate, while the red conclusion only requires congruence.

Used by. Corollary 6.