Minkowski’s Theorem

Minkowski’s theorem says that if S is a convex set in Rn which is symmetric about the origin and has volume V(S)>2n (or if S is compact and V(S)2n) then S contains some nonzero point of Zn.

Minkowski’s theorem can be seen as a simple consequence of Blichfeldt’s theorem. In particular, consider applying its statement to the set S/2:={s/2:sS}. Since V(S/2)=V(S)/2n>1 (or if S is compact, V(S/2)1) the theorem says that there exist distinct x1, x2S/2 with x1x2Zn. Say that these have the form x1=s1/2 and x2=s2/2 where s1, s2S.

Since S is symmetric about the origin, it follows that s2S. Additionally, since S is convex, it follows that the midpoint of s1 and s2 is also in S. But this midpoint (s1s2)/2=x1x2 is also in Zn. Since x1x2 this point is nonzero, as required.

Using the form of Blichfeldt’s theorem applied to general lattices L of dimension n, one finds that if S is a convex and symmetric set in Rn with volume V(S)>2ndet(L) (or if S is compact and V(S)2ndet(L)) then S contains a nonzero point of L.