Problem:
Find all positive integers for which there exists points in the plane such that any of them lies on exactly of the lines determined by these points.
Solution
Solution:
We shall prove that . If we take 6 points in general position (no three are collinear), then the lines are 15 and any point lies on 5 lines, i.e. is a solution of the problem.
Denote by the number of the lines defined by the given points. Assume that there is a line containing 4 of the given points. Any of the points belongs to lines different from which means that there are at least lines. Then
i.e., . On the other hand, any point lying not on belongs to at least four lines (the lines through the point and the four points on ) and hence , a contradiction. So any line contains at most 3 points. Let of the lines contain 2 points. Then each of the other lines contains 3 points.
The number of the points (any of them counted times) is equal to and then . On the other hand, since points define lines (some of them may coincide) and any line containing three points is counted three times, then . Thus
Since , then , i.e., . Now implies that . For the values of and are not integers and hence or . For one has that and for we get that .
Denote by the maximal number of points in general position among the given points. Then the remaining points belong to lines defined by these points.
Case 1. Let and let the respective points be . Any of the other points lies on one of the lines and . Since any line contains at most 3 points, then we have at most 6 points, a contradiction.
Case 2. Let and let the respective points be . Since the total number of the points is at least 8, we may find a point belonging to exactly one of the lines defined by . We may assume that the point is and . Then the points as well as are in general position. Hence all the points must belong to the lines defined by and . The only common lines are and , i.e., all the points lie on two lines. This is a contradiction to the fact that any line contains at most 3 points.
Case 3. Let and let the respective points be . Any of the points belongs to exactly 4 lines. This means that , is one of these lines. We may assume that . Then is one of the lines or . Let us have, for example, . Then is a new line, a contradiction.