The Number of Directions Determined by Points in the Three-Dimensional Euclidean Space

Abstract

Let X be a set of n points in the three-dimensional Euclidean space such that no three points in X are on the same line and there is no plane containing all points in X . An old conjecture states that pairs of points in X determine at least 2n-3 directions. We prove the weaker result that X determines at least 1.75n-2 directions.