Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2005/iii/paper-32/3/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 iii Paper 32 3 i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Choose an integral Minimal Weierstrass equation whose discriminant is a -adic unit. Given , scale the coordinates so that and at least one is a unit. DefineAnother primitive representative differs by a unit scalar, so the projective reduction is well defined. The reduced cubic is smooth by good reduction.
To prove the group homomorphism property, view this smooth projective cubic with its section as the integral elliptic model . Its addition law is defined over , by adding degree-zero divisor classes, and thus is a regular morphism . Properness identifies with the integral sections just described. Reducing the addition morphism is the group operation of the smooth special fiber. ConsequentlyThis is the good-reduction map respects elliptic addition argument; it covers tangent, vertical and infinity cases where reducing a single affine slope formula would involve division by a nonunit. Smoothness also makes reduction surjective: at each reduced point a partial derivative is a unit, and the Hensel lemma lifts that point in a local affine chart.
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