On the number of ordinary circles

Abstract

We prove that any $n$ points in $\mathbb{R}^2$, not all on a line or circle, determine at least $\frac{1}{4}n^2-O(n)$ ordinary circles (circles containing exactly three of the $n$ points). The main term of this bound is best possible for even $n$. Our proof relies on a recent result of Green and Tao on ordinary lines.