On order types of systems of segments in the plane (Q2270173)

Let \(r(n)\) denote the largest integer such that every family of \(n\) pairwise disjoint segments in the plane in general position has \(r(n)\) members whose order type can be represented by points. In this note it is shown that \(r(n)> cn^{1/4}\) for some absolute constant \(c\). This result improves on a recent bound of \textit{J. Pach} and \textit{G. Tóth} [Indian Statistical Institute Platinum Jubilee Commemorative Volume---Architecture and Algorithms. World Sci. Singapore pp. 43--53 (2009)] of the type \(r(n)>\log_{16} n\).