Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2009 / ii / Paper 4 / 23G / Solution

For a smooth projective curve of genus $g$, the Riemann-Roch theorem stateswhere $D$ is a divisor, $K$ a canonical divisor, and $\ell (D)=\dim H^0(V,{\mathcal{O}}_V(D))$. In particular, applying it to $D=0$ and $D=K$ gives $\ell (K)=g$ and $\mathrm{deg}K=2g-2$.

For a nonconstant morphism $f:C\to D$ of degree $d$ in characteristic zero, choose local parameters with $t\circ f=u^e$ up to a unit at a point of ramification index $e$. Pulling back a differential multiplies its local order by $e$ and adds $e-1$, because $d(u^e)=e{u}^{e-1}du$ and $e\ne 0$ in the field. ThusThe degree of a divisor of a pulled-back divisor is $d$ times its degree. Taking degrees and using the Riemann-Roch theorem gives the Riemann-Hurwitz formula

A smooth plane cubic has genus one by the genus-degree formula. In the displayed normal form, $F(0,X_1)=c{X}_1^3$ with $c\ne 0$: otherwise $X_0$ divides $F$ and the cubic is reducible. Therefore the line $X_0=0$ meets the cubic in the divisor $3P_0$, and ${\mathcal{O}}_V(1)\cong {\mathcal{O}}_V(3P_0)$. The elliptic curve group law identifies $P$ with the degree-zero divisor class $[P-P_0]$. Order three means $3P\sim 3P_0$. Consequently ${\mathcal{O}}_V(3P)\cong {\mathcal{O}}_V(1)$ and has a section with zero divisor $3P$.

Every section of ${\mathcal{O}}_V(1)$ is the restriction of a linear form: ambient linear forms form a three-dimensional space and restrict injectively, while Riemann-Roch theorem gives $h^0({\mathcal{O}}_V(1))=3$, since $\mathrm{deg}(K-3P_0)=-3$ forces the dual term to vanish. Thus this section is some nonzero $H$, proving $V\cap V(H)=\{P\}$, with intersection multiplicity three. This is the three-torsion points are flexes of a plane cubic property.

Projection forgetting $X_3$ defines a morphism $W\to V$: its only possible indeterminacy point $(0:0:0:1)$ does not satisfy the second equation. It is a double cover. Away from the zeros of $H_1{H}_2$, its two square roots are distinct. Each line intersects $V$ in three simple points, since it is nowhere tangent; the two triples are disjoint because the lines do not meet on $V$. In a local trivialization near any of these six points the covering equation is $s^2=ua(u)$ with $a(0)\ne 0$, so the ramification index is two. There is no other ramification. The Riemann-Hurwitz formula therefore gives