The Solution to a Problem of Grünbaum

Abstract

AbstractThe paper characterizes the set of all possible values for the number of lines determined by n points for n sufficiently large. For the lower bound of Kelly and Moser for the number of lines in a configuration with n — k collinear points is shown to be sharp and it is shown that all values between Mmin(k) and Mmax(k) are assumed with the exception of Mmax — 1 and Mmax — 3. Exact expressions are obtained for the lower end of the continuum of values leading down from In particular, the best value of c = 1 is obtained in Erdös’ previous expression for this lower end of the continuum.