There exist \(6n/13\) ordinary points (Q1209843)

The paper concerns the number of ordinary points in a configuration of \(n\) straight lines in the real projective plane; a point is called ordinary if it is incident with exactly two of the lines. The authors prove that the number of ordinary points is at least \(6n/13\), apart from the example of pencils \((n\) parallel lines) and from the Kelly-Moser example (a complete quadrilateral with its three diagonal lines). S. Hansen claimed in his dissertation (habilitation) (Univ. Copenhagen, 1981) to obtain the estimate \(n/2\) apart from three examples. The authors show that the proof of Hansen is invalid because a theorem in Hansen's dissertation is false.