Structure of slope-critical configurations (Q1056906)

Let X be a configuration of n noncollinear points in the real affine plane. It is known [\textit{P. Ungar}, J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 33, 343-347 (1982; Zbl 0496.05001)] that the points of X determine at least n-1 distinct slopes and X is slope-critical if the minimum n-1 is achieved. At present, four infinite families and 102 sporadic examples of such slope-critical configurations are known. This paper presents an indepth investigation of some of these sporadic examples and the determination of all slope-critical configurations on nine or fewer points.