Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2005/iii/paper-32/1/v/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 iii Paper 32 1 v Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The good-reduction map respects elliptic addition. Since the finite groups at two and three have orders five and seven, respectively, reduces to at two and reduces to at three. These multiples are not , since has infinite order. The formal kernel of a minimal Weierstrass equation gives, for every nonidentity point in the reduction kernel at ,Thus both coordinates of have negative two-adic valuation, and both coordinates of have negative three-adic valuation. In particularThere is also an elementary way to see that both coordinates must fail integrality here. An integral affine pair cannot reduce to the point at infinity. If one coordinate had negative valuation and the other nonnegative valuation, the equation would give different valuations on its two sides. When both are negative the lowest-valuation terms give , so both are indeed negative.
For a direct numerical confirmation, continuing the chord-and-tangent group law calculation givesThe original printed part repeats its request about at the end; the two distinct requested multiples are and .
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