Problem:
How many lines pass through exactly two points in the following hexagonal grid?

Problem:
How many lines pass through exactly two points in the following hexagonal grid?

Solution:
Answer:
First solution. From a total of points, there are ways to choose two points. We consider lines that pass through more than points.
- There are lines that pass through exactly three points. These are: the six sides of the largest hexagon, three lines through the center (perpendicular to the sides of the largest hexagon), and the other six lines perpendicular to the sides of the largest hexagon.
- There are lines that pass through exactly four points. (They are parallel to the sides of the largest hexagon.)
- There are lines that pass through exactly five points. (They all pass through the center.)
For each , a line that passes through points will be counted times, and so the corresponding amount will have to be subtracted. Hence the answer is
Second solution. We divide the points into groups as follows.
- Group consists of the center point.
- Group consists of the points surrounding the center.
- Group consists of the vertices of the largest hexagon.
- Group consists of the midpoints of the sides of the largest hexagon.
We wish to count the number of lines that pass through exactly points. Consider: all lines connecting points in group and , and , and and pass through more than points. So it is sufficient to restrict our attention to group , and .
- For lines connecting group and , the only possibilities are those that the two endpoints are degrees apart with respect to the center, so possibilities.
- For lines connecting group and , it is impossible.
- For lines connecting group and , the two endpoints must be degrees apart with respect to the center, so possibilities.
- For lines connecting group and . For each point in group , the only possible points in group are those that are degrees apart from the point in group . So possibilities.
- For lines connecting group and , the endpoints must be degrees apart with respect to the center, so possibilities.
- For lines connecting group and . For each point in group , any point in group works except those that are on the side on the largest hexagon of which the point in group is the midpoint. Hence possibilities.
Therefore, the number of lines passing through points is , as desired.