Plane curves with nodes and cusps. (Q2481731)

The problem for which triples \((m, \delta, \nu)\) there exist irreducible plane curves of degree \(m\) with \(\delta\) nodes and \(\nu\) cusps is still open. The author gives series of examples by considering branch curves of generic projections of surfaces. He computes the occurring triples arising from ruled surfaces, smooth surfaces in \({\mathbb P}^3\) and surfaces with smooth double curve. In particular, the branch curves of smooth surfaces of degree \(n\) form a family with \((m, \delta, \nu)=(n(n-1),{1\over2}n(n-1)(n-2)(n-3),n(n-1)(n-2))\) of dimension \({n+3\choose 3}-5\), which exceeds the expected dimension \({m+2\choose 2}-\delta-2\nu-1\) by \(n-2\choose 3\).