Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2008/iii/paper-28/2/iv/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 iii Paper 28 2 iv Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Double using the tangent formula. The slope issoThis finite point is neither nor , since its abscissa is nonzero. Therefore are both finite nonidentity points.
For a direct exact-coordinate proof, the line from to has slope , while the line from to has slope . For a secant through and , its slope is , and the group law gives , . Simplification yieldsThe first abscissa has odd numerator and denominator . The second has denominator and numerator not divisible by either or . Thus neither point has integral coordinates.
Reduction also explains the obstruction without requiring the full secant arithmetic. At the good prime , , and has order three, so . At the good prime , the displayed coordinates of reduce to , so . A finite point with integral affine coordinates reduces to an affine point, not to the identity at infinity. Membership in the kernel of reduction of an elliptic curve therefore certifies the same two nonintegrality conclusions, at primes and respectively.
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