Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-algebraic-curves-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2023/1/c/solution

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 give
and
Since 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 gives
The improvement comes from making the polar curve tangent at a chosen nonsingular point, thereby reserving at least two of the available intersections.

New to topics? Read the docs here!