English

On the impossibility of certain $({n^2+n+k}_{n+1})$ configurations

Combinatorics 2026-03-18 v2

Abstract

This paper investigates the impossibility of certain (n2+n+kn+1)({n^2+n+k}_{n+1}) configurations. Firstly, for k=2k=2, the result of \cite{gropp1992non} that n2+n2\frac{n^2+n}{2} is even and n+1n+1 is a perfect square or n2+n2\frac{n^2+n}{2} is odd and n1n-1 is a perfect square is reproved using the incidence matrix NN and analysing the form of NTNN^TN. Then, for all kk, configurations where paralellism is a transitive property are considered. It is then analogously established that if n0n\equiv0 or nk1n\equiv k-1 mod kk for kk even, then n2+nk\frac{n^2+n}{k} is even and n+1n+1 is a perfect square or n2+nk\frac{n^2+n}{k} is odd and n(k1)n-(k-1) is a perfect square. Finally, the case k=3k=3 is investigated in full generality.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2404.17514,
  title  = {On the impossibility of certain $({n^2+n+k}_{n+1})$ configurations},
  author = {Jackson Philbrook and Benjamin Peet},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2404.17514},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

Corrections and rearranging sections as requested by peer review