On Distinct Angles in the Plane

Abstract

We prove that if $N$ points lie in convex position in the plane then they determine $\Omega(N^{5/4})$ distinct angles, provided that the points do not lie on a common circle. This is derived from a more general claim that if $N$ points in the convex position in the real plane determine $KN$ distinct angles, then $K=\Omega(N^{1/4})$ or $\Omega(N/K)$ points are co-circular. The proof makes use of the implicit order one can give to points in convex position and relies on a slightly more general order assumption. The assumption enables one to reduce the issue to counting incidences between points and a multiset of cubic curves, with special attention being paid to the case when the curves are reducible.