Two-isogeny index formula over a number field ($[E(K):2E(K)]=\#\alpha (E(K))\#{\alpha }^{\prime }(E^{\prime }(K))/\delta$)

For the two-isogeny formula $\varphi :E\to E^{\prime }$ over a number field, the two-torsion square-class homomorphisms have kernels $\hat{\varphi }{E}^{\prime }(K)$ and $\varphi E(K)$. ConsequentlyIndeed $2E(K)=\hat{\varphi }\varphi E(K)$, and the surjection from $E^{\prime }(K)/\varphi E(K)$ to $\hat{\varphi }{E}^{\prime }(K)/2E(K)$ has kernel $\ker \hat{\varphi }/(\ker \hat{\varphi }\cap \varphi E(K))$. Combined with the Mordell-Weil theorem, the index is $2^r\#E(K)[2]$, where $r$ is the rank of an abelian group. This formula prevents an erroneous extra factor of two in an isogeny descent.