Height descent lemma

Let an abelian group $A$ carry a nonnegative quadratic height with finite bounded subsets. If $A/nA$ is finite for some $n\ge 2$, repeatedly choosing representatives modulo $nA$ reduces the height by a fixed factor until a bounded set is reached. The representatives and that finite bounded set generate $A$.

For a fixed rational point $R$ on an elliptic curve over a number field, the addition formula gives $h_x(P-R)\le 2h_x(P)+O_R(1)$. The duplication map has degree four, so $h_x(2Q)=4h_x(Q)+O(1)$. Combining them gives the displayed contraction. A finite set of representatives modulo twice the point group makes the constants uniform. Points above a fixed height threshold descend by a definite amount; Northcott theorem makes the terminal bounded-height set finite. This converts the Weak Mordell-Weil theorem into the full finite-generation theorem.

For an elliptic curve over a number field, its nonnegative canonical height of an elliptic curve has finite bounded subsets by the Northcott theorem and its bounded difference from half the naive logarithmic height. By the Weak Mordell-Weil theorem, choose representatives $R_i$ modulo $2E(K)$ and put $H={\max }_i\hat{h}(R_i)$. If $P=2Q+R_i$, the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality for the height pairing gives $\hat{h}(Q)\le (\hat{h}(P)+H)/2$. Iterating brings every point into the finite set of height at most $H+1$. This set and the $R_i$ generate $E(K)$, proving the Mordell-Weil theorem without assuming finite generation when constructing the height.