English

Around Sylvester's question in the plane

Probability 2015-11-13 v1

Abstract

Pick nn points Z0,...,Zn1Z_0,...,Z_{n-1} uniformly and independently at random in a compact convex set HH with non empty interior of the plane, and let QHnQ^n_H be the probability that the ZiZ_i's are the vertices of a convex polygon. Blaschke 1917 \cite{Bla} proved that QT4QH4QD4Q^4_T\leq Q^4_H\leq Q^4_D, where DD is a disk and TT a triangle. In the present paper we prove QT5QH5QD5Q^5_T\leq Q^5_H\leq Q^5_D. One of the main ingredients of our approach is a new formula for QHnQ^n_H which permits to prove that Steiner symmetrization does not decrease QH5Q^5_H, and that shaking does not increases it (this is the method Blaschke used in the n=4n=4 case). We conjecture that the new formula we provide will lead in the future to the complete proof that QTnQHnQDnQ^n_T\leq Q^n_H\leq Q^n_D , for any nn.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1511.03658,
  title  = {Around Sylvester's question in the plane},
  author = {Jean-François Marckert},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1511.03658},
  year   = {2015}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-22T11:42:56.964Z