Projective geometry of polygons and discrete 4-vertex and 6-vertex theorems (Q1769627)

The 4-vertex theorem asserts that every curve in the Euclidean plane has at least 4 vertices, i.\,e., points where it has \(4\)-order contact with the osculating circle. The projective analogue of this theorem deals with sextactic points of curves, namely points where it has \(6\)-order contact with its osculating conic. While vertices are extrema of the ordinary curvature function, sextactic points are extrema of the affine curvature. The 6-vertex theorem asserts that any closed convex curve in \({\mathbb P}^2\) has at least 6 sextactic points. There are several related notions and results of these, so for instance the theorem of E.\,Ghys, stating that the Schwarzian derivative \(S(f)\) of a diffeomorphism \(f:{\mathbb P}^1\longrightarrow{\mathbb P}^1\) vanishes in at least 4 distinct points. For polygons \(X\) in the projective space the authors define analogues of these notions in such a way that the theorems remain valid. If \(X\) is given by a finite sequence \(X=\left(V_1,\dots,V_n,V_{n+1}=V_1\right)\) of points, the analogue of a vertex of \(X\) is defined as a triple \(\left(V_i,V_{i+1},V_{i+2}\right)\) of points, called extremal, such that \(V_{i-1}\) and \(V_{i+3}\) lie on the same side of the osculating circle through \(V_i\), \(V_{i+1}\), \(V_{i+2}\). Similarly, the analogue of a sextactic point is a quintupel \(\left(V_i,\ldots,V_{i+4}\right)\) such that \(V_{i-1}\) and \(V_{i+5}\) lie on the same side of the conic passing through these points. To find the analogue of the theorem of E.\,Ghys, the diffeomorphism \(f\) of above is replaced by a pair \(X=\left(x_1,\dots,x_n\right)\), \(Y=\left(y_1,\dots,y_n\right)\) of sequences of distinct points of \({\mathbb P}^1\). The Schwarzian derivative \(S(f)\) is replaced by the difference \(\left[y_j,y_{j+2},y_{j+3},y_{j+4}\right]- \left[x_j,x_{j+2},x_{j+3},x_{j+4}\right]\) of cross ratios of consecutive points of \(Y\) and \(X\). Then, the discrete version of the theorem of E. Ghys holds. A result of \textit{M. Barner} [Abh. Math. Semin. Univ. Hamb. 20, 196--215 (1956; Zbl 0071.15601)] generalizes the 6-vertex theorem to arbitrary dimensions, stating that a strictly convex curve in \({\mathbb P}^d\) has at least \(d+1\) distinct inflection points. This and the corresponding notions are generalized to the case of polygons as well.