The number of vertices of a Fano polytope (Q818302)

Though this paper is motivated by algebraic geometry, its results can be described in purely geometric terms. Let \(N \cong \mathbb{Z}^n\) be a lattice, and let \(M := \text{Hom}_{\mathbb{Z}}(N,\mathbb{Z})\) be the dual lattice. Let \(N_\mathbb{Q} := N \otimes \mathbb{Q}\) and \(M_\mathbb{Q} := M \otimes \mathbb{Q}\) be the corresponding rational vector spaces. If \(P \subset N_\mathbb{Q}\) is a lattice polytope (thus with vertex-set \(V(P) \subset N\)) and the origin is in its interior, then the (negative) dual polytope \(P^*\) is defined by \[ P^* := \{y \in M_\mathbb{Q} \mid \langle x,y\rangle \geq -1 \text{ for all } x \in P\}. \] Then \(P\) is called reflexive if \(P^*\) is also a lattice polytope. If \(u \in V(P^*)\), let \(F_u := \{x \in P \mid \langle x,u\rangle = -1\}\) be the corresponding facet of \(P\), and define \[ \delta_P := \min\{\langle v,u\rangle \mid v \in V(P),\;u \in V(P^*),\;v \notin F_u\}, \] which is a non-negative integer. The author proves the following about a simplicial reflexive \(n\)-polytope \(P\). First, \(| V(P)| \leq 3n\). Second, if \(\delta_P > 0\), then \(| V(P)| \leq n + n/\delta_P\). Characterizations of the cases of equality are also given. [Reviewer's comment. The formula (4) of the paper holds more generally than is stated. Let \(u(F)\) be the primitive integer outer normal vector to the facet \(F\) of an \(n\)-dimensional lattice polytope \(P\), and let \(\text{ Vol}(F)\) denote its lattice area. Then \[ \sum_F \text{ Vol}(F)u(F) = o, \] the zero vector. This is easily deduced from the Minkowski relation, as is the special case given.]