Let κ < λ be regular uncountable cardinals. Using a finite support iteration of ccc posets we obtain the consistency of b = a = κ < s = λ. If μ is a measurable cardinal and μ < κ < λ, then using similar techniques we obtain the consistency of b = κ < a = s = λ.

We show that if Part(κ, λ) holds for every λ ≥ κ, then κ is strongly compact. Let κ be a regular infinite cardinal, and let λ ≥ κ be a cardinal. Pκ(λ) denotes the set of all subsets of λ of size less than κ. Part(κ, λ) means that for every F : Pκ(λ) × Pκ(λ) → 2, there is a cofinal subset A of (Pκ(λ),⊆) such that F is constant on the set {(a, b) ∈ A × A : a ⊂ b}. This definition is due to Jech [...