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Problem #93: If $n$ distinct points in $\mathbb{R}^2$ form a convex...

If $n$ distinct points in $\mathbb{R}^2$ form a convex polygon then they determine at least $\lfloor \frac{n}{2}\rfloor$ distinct distances.

Problem Statement

If $n$ distinct points in $\mathbb{R}^2$ form a convex polygon then they determine at least $\lfloor \frac{n}{2}\rfloor$ distinct distances.
Categories: Geometry Convex Distances

Progress

Solved by Altman [Al63]. The stronger variant that says there is one point which determines at least $\lfloor \frac{n}{2}\rfloor$ distinct distances (see [982]) is still open. Fishburn in fact conjectures that if $R(x)$ counts the number of distinct distances from $x$ then\[\sum_{x\in A}R(x) \geq \binom{n}{2}.\]Szemerédi conjectured a stronger form in which the convexity is replaced by the assumption that there are no three points on a line - see [1082].

See also [660].

Source: erdosproblems.com/93 | Last verified: January 13, 2026

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