Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 April 2009
A method of embedding nk configurations into projective space of k–1 dimensions is given. It breaks into the easy problem of finding a rooted spanning tree of the associated Levi graph. Also it is shown how to obtain a “complementary” “theorem” about projective space (over a field or skew-field F) from any nk theorem over F. Some elementary matroid theory is used, but with an explanation suitable for most people. Various examples are mentioned, including the planar configurations: Fano 73, Pappus 93, Desargues 103 (also in 3d-space), Möbius 84 (in 3d-space), and the resulting 74 in 3d-space, 96 in 5d-space, and 107 in 6d-space. (The Möbius configuration is self-complementary.) There are some nk configurations that are not embeddable in certain projective spaces, and these will be taken to similarly not embeddable configurations by complementation. Finally, there is a list of open questions.