 Coefficient formula for trace of Frobenius modulo p

For odd $p$, let $y^2=f(x)$ be a nonsingular cubic Weierstrass equation of an elliptic curve over ${\mathbb{F}}_p$. Its Trace of Frobenius is $a_p=-{\sum }_x\chi (f(x))$, where $\chi$ is the Legendre symbol extended by $\chi (0)=0$. By the Euler criterion, reduce this sum to $f(x{)}^{(p-1)/2}$. The sum of a positive power $x^j$ over ${\mathbb{F}}_p$ is zero unless $p-1$ divides $j$, when it is $-1$. Since the polynomial has degree $3(p-1)/2<2(p-1)$, only its $x^{p-1}$ coefficient contributes.