Predegree Polynomials of Plane Configurations in Projective Space

We work over an algebraically closed ground field of characteristic zero. The group of PGL(4) acts naturally on the projective space P^N parameterizing surfaces of a given degree d in P^3. The orbit of a surface under this action is the image of a rational map from P^15 to P^N. The closure of the orbit is a natural and interesting object to study. Its predegree is defined as the degree of the orbit closure multiplied by the degree of the above map restricted to a general P^j , j being the dimension of the orbit. We find the predegrees and other invariants for all surfaces supported on unions of planes. The information is encoded in the so-called adjusted predegree polynomials, which possess nice multiplicative properties allowing us to easily compute the predegree (polynomials) of various special plane configurations. The predegree has both a combinatorial and geometric significance. The results obtained in this thesis would be a necessary step in the solution of the problem of computing predegrees for all surfaces.