Straight line arrangements in the real projective plane (Q1275654)

An arrangement of pseudolines in the projective plane is a finite collection of simple closed curves, such that any two have exactly one point in common. The arrangement is called simple if no three lines intersect in the same point. Clearly, an arrangement of pseudolines defines a cell-decomposition of the projective plane. Arrangements that achieve for a given number of curves the maximal number of triangles (i.e. \(2\)-cells whose boundary contains \(3\) intersection points) have been studied by various authors. Simple arguments show that for an arrangement of pseudolines consisting of \(n\) curves no more than \(n(n-1)/2\) triangles can be achieved. \textit{B. Grünbaum} [Arrangements and spreads. Providence, R. I.: Am. Math. Soc. (1972; Zbl 0249.50011)] posed the question whether this number can be achieved for an infinite number of arrangements of straight lines. The paper under review answers this question affirmatively. The proof goes via a recursive construction based on earlier results for pseudolines by \textit{H. Harborth} [Colloq. Math. Soc. János Bolyai 37, 371--378 (1984; Zbl 0564.05018)] and \textit{J.-P. Roudneff} [Discrete Math. 60, 243--251 (1986; Zbl 0608.51003)].