# Sets of integers represented by degree zero rational functions

Suppose $f(x_1,x_2,\dots)=\frac{P}{Q}$, where $P,Q$ are polynomials in several variables with integer coefficients that have the same degree. Let's denote by $S(f)$ the set of integers $n$ for which $f(x_1,x_2,\dots)=n$ is solvable in integers.

Which sets $S\subset \mathbb Z$ can be written as $S(f)$ for some $f$ as above?

For example we have, $S(\frac{x_1^2+x_2^2}{x_1x_2+1})=\lbrace -5,0,1,4,\dots,k^2,\dots\rbrace$.

This question is just a musing from playing around with variations to Hilbert's tenth problem. A more direct question would be: Is every Diophantine set representable as some $S(f)$?

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The restriction to degree zero doesn't actually matter. If $P$ and $Q$ have different degrees you can always introduce a new variable $z$ and replace $P$ with $P + 4PQz$ and $Q$ with $Q+4PQz$. The new rational function will be degree $0$ and can only be an integer when $z=0$, when $P=0$, or when $P=Q\ne 0$. –  zeb Jan 29 '13 at 4:14

A set $T \subseteq \mathbb{Z}$ can be written as $S(f)$ if and only if $T$ is effectively enumerable.
Suppose $T$ is effectively enumerable. By the MRDP theorem choose a polynomial $f(\bar{z},x)$ such that $T$ is precisely all $x$ for which the equation $f(\bar{z},x)=0$ is solvable in integers $\bar{z}$. Then the rational function \begin{equation*} r(\bar{z},x):=x+\dfrac{f(\bar{z},x)^2}{1+f(\bar{z},x)^2} \end{equation*} has the value $x$ if $f(\bar{z},x)=0$, and otherwise is not an integer. Therefore $T=S(r)$.
Conversely, it is intuitively clear that every set of the form $S(r)$, with $r$ a rational function, is effectively enumerable.