The Sylvester–Gallai Theorem(futilitycloset.com) |
The Sylvester–Gallai Theorem(futilitycloset.com) |
I can't make out the point here (no pun). Of course a line can pass through any two points. It could pass through three if those points were collinear but the statement says they're not. So what is the new fact?
You may think "I'm sure I can arrange these points in a way where EVERY line will cross three or more points" but you will fail if you try unless ALL points are colinear.
For all arbitrarily sized (but finite) sets of not collinear points, there's always a line that passes through exactly two points in the set.
Given N points, N > 2, can you arrange them in a Euclidean plane so that (1) they are not all on the same line, and (2) every line that goes through two of the points must also go through at least one more of the points?
The theorem says that you cannot do this.