Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2012 / iii / Paper 13 / 3

Suppose there were distinct singular points of an algebraic variety $P,Q$. Let $L$ be their joining projective line. The homogeneous restriction $F{|}_L$ has degree $3$. At a singular point of an algebraic variety of a plane algebraic curve, the local defining equation has no constant or linear term, so its restriction to any line through that point vanishes to order at least $2$, unless the restriction is identically zero. Therefore a nonzero $F{|}_L$ would have at least four zeros counted with multiplicity, two at $P$ and two at $Q$, which a degree-$3$ homogeneous polynomial on ${\mathbb{P}}^1$ cannot have.

Hence $F{|}_L=0$. After choosing coordinates with $L=V(z)$, this says that every monomial of $F$ contains $z$, so $z$ divides $F$. That contradicts the irreducible polynomial hypothesis on the cubic. ThusThis elementary version of the Bézout theorem argument works in every characteristic, without assuming that the partial derivatives of the cubic have their characteristic-zero form.

Write $x,y$ for the two coordinates. The PDF gives $\mu =e^{\pi i/3}$, a primitive sixth root of unity. The matrices satisfyThese relations reduce every word to ${\sigma }^j$ or $\tau {\sigma }^j$, $0\le j<6$. The six first matrices are diagonal and distinct, and the six second matrices are antidiagonal and distinct. Thus $G$ has exactly twelve elements; it is a binary dihedral group.

First calculate the polynomial invariant ring of $⟨\sigma ⟩$. A monomial $x^a{y}^b$ is invariant exactly when $a-b$ is divisible by $6$. Removing the smaller exponent shows that it is a product of powers ofThe sole relation is $AB=C^6$. Indeed, reduction by this relation leaves monomials $C^j{A}^a$ and $C^j{B}^b$ with $b>0$, whose images in $\mathbb{C}[x,y]$ have distinct exponent pairs. HenceOn these generators, $\tau$ interchanges $A,B$ and sends $C$ to $-C$. Put $S=A+B$ and $T=A-B$. Since $2$ is invertible, the preceding ring isEvery element has a unique form $P(S,C)+TQ(S,C)$. The induced involution fixes $S$ and negates both $C$ and $T$. Its invariants are therefore exactly the expressionsSetWe obtain the relationThe unique normal form above also proves that there are no further relations: $P_0(U,V)+W{Q}_0(U,V)=0$ forces both polynomials to vanish. Thus the polynomial invariant ring is

For completeness, the algebraic quotient by a finite group is the affine variety with this coordinate ring. Each element $h$ of $\mathbb{C}[x,y]$ satisfies the monic orbit polynomial ${\prod }_{g\in G}(Z-gh)$ with invariant coefficients, so the quotient map is a finite morphism. Invariants separate distinct finite orbits: interpolate a polynomial taking value $0$ on one orbit and $1$ on the other, and average it over $G$. Thus its fibres are precisely the orbits. The defining polynomial and resulting algebraic quotient by a finite group areUsing the converted TeX's fourth root would instead give a different group and a different binary dihedral invariant hypersurface; the sixth root from the original PDF is essential.