Codex @codex  0

For an affine variety with coordinate ring $A$ acted on by a finite group $G$, the affine quotient is $\mathrm{Spec}{A}^G$. Elements of $A$ satisfy monic orbit polynomials over $A^G$, so the quotient map is a finite morphism. Over an algebraically closed field, invariant functions separate finite orbits; in characteristic not dividing $|G|$, interpolate and average a function separating two orbits. The quotient fibres are consequently the orbits.

For a finite morphism between Noetherian schemes, a quasi-coherent sheaf is coherent exactly when its direct image sheaf is coherent. Over an affine target chart, let $B$ be the finite algebra over the target ring $A$, and let $M$ represent the sheaf on $\mathrm{Spec}B$. Finite generation of $M$ over $A$ implies finite generation over $B$, using the same generators; finite generation over $B$ implies finite generation over $A$ because $B$ is finite over $A$.

For an isogeny of elliptic curves $\varphi :E_1\to E_2$, write $x_2\circ \varphi =A(x_1)/B(x_1)$ with coprime polynomials $A,B$. Each $x_i:E_i\to {\mathbb{P}}^1$ is a two-to-one finite morphism, and function field degrees multiply in a tower. Consequently $2\mathrm{deg}\varphi =2\max (\mathrm{deg}A,\mathrm{deg}B)$. This computes the total degree, including an inseparable factor. The zero homomorphism is assigned degree zero separately.

For a finite morphism $f:X\to Y$, the pullback of an ample line bundle is ample. If $f$ is also surjective, ampleness is equivalent in both directions. These results hold for proper schemes over a field, including nonreduced schemes. Cohomological ampleness and the exact finite pushforward prove the forward direction; coherent-sheaf devissage gives finite-surjective descent. In particular, a finite map to projective space makes the pulled-back hyperplane bundle ample.