On the number of even ovals of a nonsingular curve of even degree in \(\mathbb{R}\mathbb{P}^2\) (Q2735115)

The Ragsdale conjecture on the number of ovals of a non-singular curve is known to be false; see \textit{O. Ja. Viro}, Sov. Math., Dokl. 22, 566-570 (1980); translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 254, 1306-1310 (1980; Zbl 0481.14009) or \textit{I. Itenberg}, C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 317, 277-282 (1993; Zbl 0787.14040). In this paper the existing counterexamples are improved. In fact, the author constructs nonsingular curves of degree \(2k\) in \(\mathbb{R}\mathbb{P}^2\) for which NEWLINE\[NEWLINEp = {3k(k-1) \over 2} + \left[ { 9k^2 \over 48} + Ak + B \right] NEWLINE\]NEWLINE where \(A\) and \(B\) are constants not depending on \(k\) and \(p\) is the number of even ovals of the curve. A similar result is proved for the number of odd ovals. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThese curves are constructed in a simple combinatorial fashion by patchworking them from pieces which are essentially lines.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 0961.00011].