Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / ii / Paper 3 / 24F / a / Solution

Homogenizing the affine equation gives the projective closureIts partial derivatives areIf all three vanished at a point of $X$, then $X=0$ and either $Y=0$ or $Z=0$. If $Y=0$, the equation $F=0$ forces $Z=0$; if $Z=0$, the equation $F_Z=0$ forces $Y=0$. Either conclusion gives the forbidden zero triple of homogeneous coordinates. The Jacobian criterion therefore shows that $X$ is a smooth projective curve; more specifically, it is the projective closure of y cubed equals x to the fourth plus one, a smooth plane quartic.