Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-algebraic-curves-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2023/1/c/solution
Past exam of the algebraic curves course of the University of Oxford 2023 1 c Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
There is a nonsingular point of an algebraic curve on , since part (b) makes its singular locus finite whereas a projective curve has infinitely many complex points. Apply a projective transformation taking one such point to , and use for the transformed homogeneous polynomial. As in part (b), is nonzero and has no common irreducible component with .
The Euler theorem for homogeneous functions and its differentiated identities giveandSince is nonsingular on , at least one of is nonzero. Because , the polar curve is also nonsingular at , and these identities show that . Hence .
This additional intersection is separate from all the singular points of . Thus Bézout's theorem givesThe improvement comes from making the polar curve tangent at a chosen nonsingular point, thereby reserving at least two of the available intersections.
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