On the Poncelet triangle condition over finite fields

Abstract: Let

{m a t h b f P}^{2}

denote the projective plane over a finite field

{m a t h b b F}_{q}

. A pair of nonsingular conics

(m a t h c a l A, m a t h c a l B)

in the plane is said to satisfy the Poncelet triangle condition if, considered as conics in

{m a t h b f P}^{2} ({o v e r l i n e m a t h b b F}_{q})

, they intersect transverally and there exists a triangle inscribed in

m a t h c a l A

and circumscribed around

m a t h c a l B

. It is shown in this article that a randomly chosen pair of conics satisfies the triangle condition with asymptotic probability

1 / q

. We also make a conjecture based upon computer experimentation which predicts this probability for tetragons, pentagons and so on up to enneagons.

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