On the number of invariant lines for polynomial systems

Abstract

In this paper we will revise the mistakes in a previous paper of Zhang Xikang (Number of integral lines of polynomial systems of degree three and four, J. Nanjing Univ. Math. Biquarterly, Supplement, 1993, pp. 209–212) for the proof of the conjecture on the maximum number of invariant straight lines of cubic and quartic polynomial differential systems; and also prove the conjecture in a previous paper of the second author (Qualitative theory of polynomial differential systems, Shanghai Science-Technical Publishers, Shanghai, 1995, p. 474) for a certain special case of the n n degree polynomial systems. Furthermore, we will prove that cubic and quartic differential systems have invariant straight lines along at most six and nine different directions, respectively, and also show that the maximum number of the directions can be obtained.