Approximation by polynomials with bounded coefficients Original Research Article

Let θ be a real number satisfying 1<θ<2, and let A(θ) be the set of polynomials with coefficients in {0,1}, evaluated at θ. Using a result of Bugeaud, we prove by elementary methods that θ is a Pisot number when the set (A(θ)−A(θ)−A(θ)) is discrete; the problem whether Pisot numbers are the only numbers θ such that 0 is not a limit point of (A(θ)−A(θ)) is still unsolved. We also determine the three greatest limit points of the quantities image, where C(θ) is the set of polynomials with coefficients in {−1,1}, evaluated at θ, and we find in particular infinitely many Perron numbers θ such that the sets C(θ) are discrete.