The extensible no-$(k(n)+1)$-in-line problem

Abstract

The classical no-$k$-in-line problem asks for the largest number of points that can be placed on an $n \times n$ grid without having $k$ of them collinear. A natural extension, motivated by the analogous question by Erde for $k\in \mathbb{Z}$, is the \emph{extensible no-$(k(n)+1)$-in-line problem}, which seeks a subset of points in $\mathbb{Z}^2$ with maximal possible density such that at most $k(n)$ points are collinear within the subgrid $[1,n]^2$. We construct optimal sets for linear functions and positive-density sets for power functions. We prove that any configuration achieving $\liminf\frac{S_n}{n k(n)} \ge 0.897$ must satisfy $k(n) = Ω( n^c)$ for some $c>0$ constant; therefore, the extensible no-$k$-in-line problem has no configuration with this property when $k$ is a constant. Finally, we reduce the problem to the extensible no-$k$-in-line problem, showing that if a positive-density point-set exists for a constant limiter function, then one also exists for any sufficiently regular function $k(n)$.