Past exam of the analytic number theory and elliptic curves course of the University of Oxford / 2009 / B / 5 / a / i / Solution

Put $U(T)=F_X(0,T)$. The formal group identity $F(X,0)=X$ gives $U(0)=1$, so $U$ is a unit in a ring in $R[[T]]$, even if $R$ has zero divisors.

A differential $h(T)dT$ is invariant under formal translation ifas an identity of formal power series. Setting $X=0$ gives $h(T)U(T)=h(0)$. Consequently every invariant differential of a formal group law, if it exists, must have the form $h(0)U(T{)}^{-1}dT$. In particular there can be only one with constant coefficient one.

Existence follows directly from associativity. Differentiatewith respect to $Z$ at zero, obtainingEvery displayed $U$ is a unit in a ring, soThis is precisely invariance of $U(T{)}^{-1}dT$. ThusNormalization means its constant coefficient is one. This proves both existence and uniqueness over an arbitrary commutative ring, without division by any integer.