Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / ii / Paper 2 / 22I / b

The Jacobian criterion on an affine chart $x_j\ne 0$ says that a point of the projective hypersurface is singular exactly when all derivatives of its dehomogenized equation vanish there. The Euler homogeneous function theorem identity ${\sum }_i{x}_i{f}_{x_i}=df$ then recovers the omitted $j$th derivative on $X$, without dividing by $d$. Thus the correct statement in every characteristic isIf the printed $Z(I)$ denotes a zero locus inside $X$, this proves it as written. If it means the ambient projective zero locus, the assertion is false when the characteristic divides $d$. When the characteristic does not divide $d$, the Euler homogeneous function theorem forces $f=0$ at every common zero of the derivatives, and the intersection with $X$ is redundant.

For a genuine counterexample to the unrestricted ambient interpretation, in characteristic $p$ takeThis is an irreducible homogeneous polynomial: it is primitive and linear in $X_2$ over $k[X_0,X_1]$, with coprime coefficients. At $[1:0:0]$ all partial derivatives vanish, including when $p=2$, but $f=1$. This point is outside $X$. Hence the ambient-locus version needs the displayed intersection or a restriction on the degree.