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For $y^2=x^3+a{x}^2+bx$ with $a\equiv 8$ and $b\equiv 9(\mathrm{mod}16)$, the square class $-1$ in a two-isogeny descent would require coprime integers $u,v$ and an integer $N$ with $N^2=-u^4+a{u}^2{v}^2-b{v}^4$. If $u$ is odd and $v$ even, the right side is $15$ modulo $16$; if $u$ is even and $v$ odd, it is $7$; if both are odd, it is $14$. None is a square modulo $16$. Therefore $-1$ does not occur in the two-torsion square-class homomorphism image.

This quartic covering in a two-isogeny descent has no solution with coprime integers $U,V$ not both zero. If precisely one is odd, the right side is $3$ modulo four. If both are odd, their fourth powers are one modulo sixteen and $14U^2{V}^2=14$ modulo sixteen, so the right side is twelve modulo sixteen. Neither residue is a square. Coprimality excludes the remaining parity case. Consequently the negative unit square class is absent from the two-torsion square-class homomorphism for $Y^2=X^3+14X^2+X$.

Move the nonidentity rational 2-torsion point to $T=(0,0)$ and complete the square. After a rational change of coordinates, the elliptic curve has an integral modelThe two-isogeny formula gives a partnerand the isogeny of elliptic curves and its dual isogeny areBoth extend at the exceptional points; their kernels are the identities and the distinguished 2-torsion points, and $\hat{\varphi }\varphi =[2]$.

The two-torsion square-class homomorphism is $\alpha (O)=1$, $\alpha (T)=[b]$, and $\alpha (x,y)=[x]$ otherwise, with values in ${\mathbb{Q}}^{\ast }/{\mathbb{Q}}^{\ast 2}$. Its kernel is $\hat{\varphi }{E}^{\prime }(\mathbb{Q})$. Define ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ on the partner in the same way. By the prime-support bound in two-isogeny descent, representatives are signed squarefree divisors $d$ of $b$, or of $b^{\prime }$ for the partner. A class is realized precisely when its quartic covering in a two-isogeny descent has a rational solution:For $UV\ne 0$, this comes from $x=d(U/V{)}^2$ and $y=dUN/V^3$; the cases $U=0$ or $V=0$ account for the distinguished point and the identity. Test this finite list using signs and local congruences, and exhibit rational solutions for the surviving classes. The local-to-global gap in isogeny descent matters: local solubility gives an upper bound from the isogeny Selmer group, so a rank determination requires matching actual classes or further descent, not merely declaring every locally soluble cover to have a rational point.

Once the two actual images are determined, the two-isogeny rank formula isFor completeness, put $A=E(\mathbb{Q})$ and $B=E^{\prime }(\mathbb{Q})$. The Mordell-Weil theorem gives $[A:2A]=2^r|A[2]|$. The index of a subgroup formula through $\hat{\varphi }B$ givesHere $\ker \hat{\varphi }\cap \varphi A=\varphi (A[2])$, since $\hat{\varphi }\varphi =[2]$, and this image has size $|A[2]|/2$. The denominator is therefore $4/|A[2]|$, proving the displayed rank of an elliptic curve formula.

The Mordell-Weil theorem gives $E(\mathbb{Q})\cong E(\mathbb{Q}{)}_{\mathrm{tors}}\oplus {\mathbb{Z}}^r$. Move the rational point of order two to $(0,0)$ and clear denominators to obtain an integral Weierstrass equation of an elliptic curveThe two-isogeny formula gives $E^{\prime }:Y^2=X(X^2-2aX+a^2-4b)$ and dual isogenies $\varphi :E\to E^{\prime }$, $\hat{\varphi }:E^{\prime }\to E$ with $\hat{\varphi }\varphi =[2]$. Compute the torsion subgroup using reduction of torsion points on an elliptic curve at several good primes, followed by division polynomials of an elliptic curve to identify the possible points.

For the free part, use two-isogeny descent. The two-torsion square-class homomorphism isin ${\mathbb{Q}}^{\ast }/{\mathbb{Q}}^{\ast 2}$, with kernel $\hat{\varphi }{E}^{\prime }(\mathbb{Q})$; define ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ on $E^{\prime }$ similarly. The prime-support bound in two-isogeny descent restricts the first image to signed square-free divisors of $b$ and the second to those of $a^2-4b$. For each candidate $d$, solve its two-isogeny descent quarticTest local solubility at the real place and the relevant p-adic fields, discard impossible classes, and search the surviving coverings for rational points. A point with $UV\ne 0$ gives $x=d(U/V{)}^2$, $y=dUN/V^3$. Include the identity and rational 2-torsion cases separately. Once both rational images are determined, the two-isogeny rank formula givesThe point searches give explicit candidates for a basis. Their canonical height pairing can certify independence; Mordell-Weil saturation and effective height bounds then certify that they generate the full free part. Rank alone does not certify generators of the whole Mordell-Weil group. If the rational images are not fully determined, the procedure instead supplies lower and upper bounds on the rank of an elliptic curve.

For $E:y^2=x^3-17x$, the two-isogeny formula gives $E^{\prime }:Y^2=X^3+68X$. By the prime-support bound in two-isogeny descent, the image of the two-torsion square-class homomorphism on $E$ lies in $\{1,-1,17,-17\}$. The identity gives $1$, $T=(0,0)$ gives $-17$, and $P=(-1,4)$ gives $-1$, since $(-1{)}^3-17(-1)=16$. The image is a subgroup of the square-class group, so their product $17$ occurs as well; explicitly $P+T=(17,68)$. HenceOn $E^{\prime }$, a nonzero affine point has $X>0$, because $Y^2=X(X^2+68)$. The only candidate square classes are therefore $1,2,17,34$. The identity gives $1$, $T^{\prime }=(0,0)$ gives $[68]=17$, and $(2,12)$ gives $2$, since $2^3+68\cdot 2=144$. Their product $34$ occurs; adding $T^{\prime }$ gives $(34,-204)$. ThusBoth images have order four. The two-isogeny rank formula provesThis is the rank-two elliptic curve with cubic x cubed minus seventeen x; all candidate classes are represented, so no unresolved local-to-global gap in isogeny descent remains in this computation.

Translate the rational point of order two to $(0,0)$ and complete the square. After clearing denominators by admissible scaling, writeThe companion curve is $E^{\prime }:Y^2=X(X^2-2aX+a^2-4b)$. The two-isogeny formula gives maps $\varphi :E\to E^{\prime }$ and $\psi :E^{\prime }\to E$ satisfying $\psi \varphi =[2]$.

For the Weak Mordell-Weil theorem in this setting, use the two-torsion square-class homomorphismand its counterpart ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ on $E^{\prime }$. These are homomorphisms: a nonvertical line intersecting the cubic in three points has the product of their $x$-coordinates a square, by comparison of the constant term of the intersection cubic. For a line through $(0,0)$, the product of the other two coordinates is $b$, explaining the special value there. The kernels are $\psi E^{\prime }(\mathbb{Q})$ and $\varphi E(\mathbb{Q})$, respectively, as follows by solving the elliptic isogeny preimage quadratic and testing its discriminant for a square.

The prime-support bound in two-isogeny descent makes both images finite. Indeed at a prime not dividing $b$, a negative valuation of $x$ makes the leading cubic term dominate, giving $2v(y)=3v(x)$; a positive valuation makes $x^2+ax+b$ a unit, giving $2v(y)=v(x)$. In either case $v(x)$ is even. Thus the square class of $x$ is supported only on primes dividing $b$, together with a possible sign. The same argument uses $b^{\prime }=a^2-4b$ on $E^{\prime }$. Since $2E=\psi \varphi E$, the two finite elliptic isogeny quotients imply that $E(\mathbb{Q})/2E(\mathbb{Q})$ is finite.

Finite generation still needs a descent on height. Let $h_x$ be the logarithmic height of the $x$-coordinate. The duplication formula has a degree-four rational $x$-coordinate map with coprime numerator and denominator. Polynomial height estimates, with the resultant supplying the lower bound, give the height growth under a morphism of the projective line relation $h_x(2P)=4h_x(P)+O(1)$. Thus the convergent telescoping limitdefines the canonical height of an elliptic curve, without assuming finite generation. It is nonnegative, satisfies $\hat{h}(2P)=4\hat{h}(P)$ and the height parallelogram identity, and differs from $h_x/2$ by a bounded amount. Consequently its bounded subsets of rational points are finite by the Northcott theorem.

Choose the finite list $R_i$ of representatives modulo $2E(\mathbb{Q})$ and let $H={\max }_i\hat{h}(R_i)$. For $P=2Q+R_i$, the canonical height pairing inequality givesRepeated halving brings the height below $H+1$. There are only finitely many such terminal points, and recovering $P$ expresses it as an integer combination of those points and the $R_i$. This proves the canonical-height proof of Mordell-Weil finite generation, so

To compute the rank of an elliptic curve, translate the rational point of order two to $(0,0)$ and put the curve in the form $y^2=x^3+a{x}^2+bx$, with $a,b\in \mathbb{Z}$ after clearing denominators and $b(a^2-4b)\ne 0$. Its two-isogenous partner and the elliptic isogeny areThe maps extend over their exceptional points. The dual isogeny isThe two-torsion square-class homomorphism is $\alpha :E(\mathbb{Q})\to {\mathbb{Q}}^{\times }/{\mathbb{Q}}^{\times 2}$, defined by $\alpha (O)=1$, $\alpha ((0,0))=[b]$, and $\alpha ((x,y))=[x]$ otherwise. Define ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ similarly on $E^{\prime }$ with $b^{\prime }=a^2-4b$.

Here are the ingredients behind the descent procedure. For a generic chord $y=mx+c$, the cubic of intersection coordinates has root product $c^2$. As the third intersection is the negative of the group sum and negation leaves $x$ unchanged, this proves the square-class homomorphism property. For a line through $(0,0)$, the two nonzero intersection coordinates have product $b$, so the assigned class $[b]$ gives the same multiplicativity. A vertical line has two equal coordinates and contributes their square, and $O$ has identity class. These observations also cover tangencies and the exceptional sums. Its kernel is $\hat{\varphi }(E^{\prime }(\mathbb{Q}))$. Indeed, the displayed formula gives $x(\hat{\varphi }(X,Y))=(Y/(2X){)}^2$. Conversely, if a point on $E$ has $x=r^2\ne 0$, the possible preimage coordinates satisfyIts elliptic-curve discriminant is $16(r^4+a{r}^2+b)=16y^2/r^2$, a rational square. A root $X$ and $Y=2rX$, with the sign chosen appropriately, give a preimage. The identity is always in the image. The point $(0,0)$ is in the image exactly when $b$ is a square: its nonzero preimage coordinates are $X=a\pm 2\sqrt{b}$, with $Y=0$. Thus the exceptional points satisfy precisely the same kernel statement. Interchanging the curves similarly gives $\ker {\alpha }^{\prime }=\varphi (E(\mathbb{Q}))$.

A prime not dividing $b$ can occur only with even valuation in an $x$-coordinate. If its valuation is positive, the factor $x^2+ax+b$ is a unit and $2v(y)=v(x)$; if negative, $x^2$ dominates that factor and $2v(y)=3v(x)$. Thus square classes in $\mathrm{im}\alpha$ have signed square-free representatives dividing $b$, giving finitely many candidates. To test a candidate $d$, put $x=d(u/v{)}^2$ and $y=duN/v^3$. The curve equation becomesA nontrivial rational solution, including the appropriate limiting points, is exactly a realization of the class. Clear denominators and arrange $\gcd (u,v)=1$ for congruence tests. Do the same for $E^{\prime }$ with $b^{\prime }$.

The factor in the two-isogeny rank formula can also be checked directly. Let $A=E(\mathbb{Q})$, $B=E^{\prime }(\mathbb{Q})$ and $t=\#A[2]$. The index of $\hat{\varphi }(B)$ in $A$ is $\#\mathrm{im}\alpha$, while the map from $B/\varphi (A)$ onto $\hat{\varphi }(B)/2A$ has kernelThe numerator has order two. Moreover $\ker \hat{\varphi }\cap \varphi (A)=\varphi (A[2])$, since $\hat{\varphi }\varphi P=2P$, and the latter has order $t/2$. Hence this quotient has order $4/t$, andThe Mordell-Weil theorem gives $[A:2A]=2^{r}t$, where $r$ is the rank. Cancelling $t$ yieldsIn practice, local congruence and real-solubility tests remove many candidate quartics, giving an upper bound, while rational point searches realize classes and give a lower bound. These often coincide. Local solubility alone is not a proof of a rational point: an everywhere locally soluble covering can still fail globally, so a remaining gap must be reported rather than treated as an exact rank.

For the curve at hand, $a=8$, $b=-7$, $b^{\prime }=92$, andThe first image is contained in $\{1,-1,7,-7\}$ and contains $1,-7$, the latter from the point $(0,0)$. To exclude $-1$, its quartic would require coprime $u,v$ withModulo $16$, an odd fourth power is $1$ and an even fourth power is $0$. If $u$ is odd and $v$ even the right side is $15$; if $u$ is even and $v$ odd it is $7$; if both are odd it is $14$. None is among the square residues $0,1,4,9$. Thus $-1$ is impossible. The image is a subgroup, so $7$ is also impossible: its product with the known class $-7$ would be $-1$. We obtain $\mathrm{im}\alpha =\{1,-7\}$.

For $E^{\prime }$, its quadratic factor is $X^2-16X+92=(X-8{)}^2+28>0$. Every nonzero rational $X$-coordinate is therefore positive. Prime support leaves only $1,2,23,46$ as possible classes; $1$ and $23=[92]$ are supplied by $O$ and the two-torsion point. The explicit point $(18,48)$ is on $E^{\prime }$ becauseIts class is $[18]=2$. Multiplying classes supplies $46$, so $\mathrm{im}{\alpha }^{\prime }=\{1,2,23,46\}$. The two-isogeny rank formula now provesAs an additional concrete point on the original curve, the dual isogeny sends $(18,48)$ to $(16/9,116/27)$. The descent calculation proves the rank; it does not by itself certify that this point generates the full free quotient.

A rational point of order $2$ can be moved to $(0,0)$, giving an integral modelIts two-isogeny descent partner and the two-isogeny formula areThe maps extend over the identity and $(0,0)$, have these two points as their respective kernels, and direct substitution and the doubling formula give $\hat{\varphi }\varphi =[2]$ and $\varphi \hat{\varphi }=[2]$.

Define the two-torsion square-class homomorphisms byand similarly ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ for $E^{\prime }$, using $b^{\prime }$. To see the homomorphism property, intersect a line $y=mx+c$ with $E$. Its three $x$-coordinates have product $c^2$, since the resulting monic cubic has constant term $-c^2$. The third point is the negative of the sum of the first two, and negation preserves $x$, so the square classes multiply as required. If the line passes through $(0,0)$, the other two coordinates have product $b$, giving exactly the prescribed exceptional value. Vertical lines and repeated intersections give the identity and tangent cases.

We also verify the kernel needed for descent:For a point on $E^{\prime }$, the first coordinate of its image under $\hat{\varphi }$ is $Y^2/(4X^2)$, a square. Conversely, if $P=(s^2,y)$ has square $x$-coordinate, solving $x(\hat{\varphi }(X,Y))=s^2$ givesIts discriminant is $16(s^4+a{s}^2+b)=(4y/s{)}^2$, so it has rational nonzero roots $X=a+2s^2\pm 2y/s$. Taking $Y=\pm 2sX$ gives a point on $E^{\prime }$; choose the signs so its image has second coordinate $y$. The exceptional point $(0,0)$ lies in the image exactly when $b$ is a square, as seen from the points with $Y=0$, $X=a\pm 2\sqrt{b}$. This proves the first kernel formula. Applying the same argument to $E^{\prime }$ and then rescaling the second partner by $(X,Y)\mapsto (X/4,Y/8)$ proves the second.

There are only finitely many candidate square classes. For a rational point write $x=M/e^2$ and $y=N/e^3$, with $\gcd (M,e)=1$. These denominator forms follow because a negative prime valuation of $x$ makes the leading cubic term the unique lowest-valuation term, forcing that valuation to be even. ThenIf a prime divides $M$ but not $b$, the second factor is a unit at that prime, so its valuation in $M$ is even. Thus every class in $\alpha (E)$ has a signed squarefree representative $d\mid b$. This is the prime-support bound in two-isogeny descent; the analogous candidates for ${\alpha }^{\prime }(E^{\prime })$ divide $b^{\prime }$.

The class $d$ is realized by a nonexceptional rational point precisely when its quartic covering in a two-isogeny descenthas a rational point with $UV\ne 0$. Indeed substitution $x=d(U/V{)}^2$, $y=dUN/V^3$ gives the original equation, and conversely the square-class condition gives these parameters. Clearing denominators permits $U,V,N$ integral with $\gcd (U,V)=1$. The zero-coordinate cases account for the already known identity and two-torsion classes.

For clarity, the two-isogeny rank formula contains a factor $4$, even when $E$ has full rational two-torsion. Put $t=\#E(\mathbb{Q})[2]$, which is $2$ or $4$, and let $r$ be the rank. From the two kernel formulas and $2E=\hat{\varphi }\varphi E$,Indeed the kernel of the induced map $E^{\prime }/\varphi E\to \hat{\varphi }{E}^{\prime }/2E$ is $\ker \hat{\varphi }/(\ker \hat{\varphi }\cap \varphi E)$. The intersection is $\varphi (E[2])$, of size $t/2$, so $\delta =4/t$. The Mordell-Weil theorem gives $[E:2E]=2^{r}t$. Therefore

This gives a practical rank procedure. Enumerate the finitely many signed squarefree divisors of $b,b^{\prime }$, and test their quartics over the reals and local fields at $2$ and primes dividing the relevant coefficients or elliptic-curve discriminant. These necessary local conditions give finite Selmer group of an elliptic curve upper bounds. Search the remaining coverings for rational points, or search the curves directly, to realize square classes and obtain lower bounds. One can also exhibit independent points and check independence by the canonical height pairing. When the upper and lower bounds agree, the rank is determined. Local solubility alone does not guarantee a rational point, so a persistent gap can reflect a nontrivial Tate–Shafarevich group rather than a missing congruence test.

Now take $a=0$, $b=-p^2$ for an odd prime $p$. The curve has four rational two-torsion points $O,(0,0),(p,0),(-p,0)$. Their images under $\alpha$ are $1,-1,p,-p$. The prime-support bound allows no other classes, soIts partner is $E_p^{\prime }:Y^2=X^3+4p^{2}X$. Any nonidentity rational point with $X\ne 0$ has $X>0$, because $X^2+4p^2>0$. Also the exceptional point has square class $4p^2=1$. Thus its image is contained in the four positive candidate classes $\{1,2,p,2p\}$. The rank bound for a prime congruent-number elliptic curve follows:

For an exact rank-one example, take $p=5$. The point $(X,Y)=(5,25)$ on $E_5^{\prime }:Y^2=X^3+100X$ realizes the class $5$. The five-adic obstructions for the congruent-number isogeny covers exclude the other two possible nontrivial classes. For $d=2$, the quartic isModulo $5$, if $5\nmid U$ the right side is $2$, a nonsquare. Hence $U=5U_1$ and $N=5N_1$; primitivity gives $5\nmid V$. Dividing by $25$ then gives $N_1^2=50U_1^4+2V^4\equiv 2(\mathrm{mod}5)$, again impossible. For $d=10$, the quartic is $N^2=10(U^4+V^4)$. At least one of $U,V$ is nonzero modulo $5$, and their fourth powers are $0$ or $1$, so their sum is $1$ or $2$ modulo $5$. The right side has five-adic valuation $1$, impossible for a square. Thus ${\alpha }^{\prime }(E_5^{\prime })=\{1,5\}$ exactly, andThe dual isogeny maps $(5,25)$ to $(25/4,-75/8)$ on $E_5$, giving an explicit rational point associated with this rank-one computation.

We first determine the torsion. The rational 2-torsion points are $O,(0,0),(5,0),(-5,0)$. At the good primes three and seven, part (b) gives group orders four and eight. Prime-to-residue-characteristic torsion injects under reduction: an element in the kernel has a formal parameter $t$ of positive valuation, and multiplication by an integer prime to the residue characteristic has series $mt+O(t^2)$ with unit leading coefficient, so cannot kill a nonzero such parameter. At seven this excludes rational 3-primary torsion; at three it excludes 7-primary torsion and every odd-primary component other than the already excluded 3-primary component. Thus all torsion is 2-primary and injects at three, bounding its order by four. Consequently

For the rank, use two-isogeny descent withThe two-isogeny formula givesThey extend at the exceptional points, have kernels $\{O,(0,0)\}$ on their respective curves, and satisfy $\psi \varphi =[2]$. These assertions can be checked by substitution; for example the composed x-coordinate is $(x^2+25{)}^2/[4x(x^2-25)]$, the duplication x-coordinate. The maps respect addition because they are morphisms fixing $O$: pushforward of divisor classes is additive, takes principal divisors to principal divisors by the norm of a rational function, and under the identification in part 1(a) sends $[(P)-(O)]$ to $[(\varphi P)-(O)]$, and likewise for $\psi$.

Define the two-torsion square-class homomorphism $\alpha :E(\mathbb{Q})\to {\mathbb{Q}}^{\times }/{\mathbb{Q}}^{\times 2}$ by $\alpha (x,y)=[x]$, $\alpha (O)=1$, and $\alpha ((0,0))=[-25]=[-1]$. Define ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ on $E^{\prime }$ similarly, with ${\alpha }^{\prime }((0,0))=[100]=1$. To see the homomorphism property, a nonvertical line $y=mx+c$ cuts either curve in three points whose x-coordinates have product $c^2$. The chord-and-tangent law therefore makes their square classes multiply to one. When the line passes through $(0,0)$, the two remaining x-coordinates have product equal to the coefficient of $x$, exactly explaining the assigned value there. Vertical lines give the inverse-point relation. The same argument includes repeated tangent intersections.

The kernels are $\ker \alpha =\psi E^{\prime }(\mathbb{Q})$ and $\ker {\alpha }^{\prime }=\varphi E(\mathbb{Q})$. Here is an explicit check, not just an invocation of the descent correspondence. The x-coordinate of every nonexceptional $\psi$-image is a square. Conversely, if $(x,y)\in E$ has $x=s^2\ne 0$, put $X=2x+2y/s$ and $Y=2sX$. Then $X^2-4xX+100=0$, so $(X,Y)\in E^{\prime }$ and the displayed $\psi$ maps it to $(x,y)$. For $E^{\prime }$, every nonexceptional $\varphi$-image has $X=(y/x{)}^2$; if $X=s^2\ne 0$, put $x=(X+Y/s)/2$, $y=sx$. Substitution gives a point of $E$ mapping to $(X,Y)$. The point $(0,0)\in E^{\prime }$ has square class one and equals $\varphi (5,0)$; the point $(0,0)\in E$ has nonsquare class $-1$. Together with the origins these checks handle every exception.

The prime-support bound in two-isogeny descent can be read directly from $y^2=x(x^2+B)$. At a prime not dividing the integral coefficient $B$, positive valuation of $x$ gives $2v(y)=v(x)$, while negative valuation gives $2v(y)=3v(x)$; either way the valuation of $x$ is even. Thus the first image has only the candidate classes $1,-1,5,-5$. All four occur, already at the four torsion points. Hence $\#\alpha (E)=4$.

On $E^{\prime }$, nonzero real x-coordinates are positive since $X(X^2+100)$ has the sign of $X$. Prime support leaves only $1,2,5,10$. The point $(5,25)$ supplies class five. Class two would give the quartic covering in a two-isogeny descentIndeed write $X=2(U/V{)}^2$ and clear the square factor in the curve equation. If $5\nmid U$, the right side is two modulo five, impossible for a square. If $5\mid U$, then $5\nmid V$ and $5\mid W$; division by twenty-five gives $(W/5{)}^2\equiv 2V^4\equiv 2(\mathrm{mod}5)$, again impossible. This is the five-adic obstruction to square class two on the curve with coefficient one hundred. Because the image is a subgroup and contains five, class ten is excluded as well. Therefore ${\alpha }^{\prime }(E^{\prime })=\{1,5\}$ has size two.

Now $[E:\psi E^{\prime }]=4$. The quotient $\psi E^{\prime }/2E$ is isomorphic to $E^{\prime }/\varphi E$: the kernel of the induced surjection is $\ker \psi /(\ker \psi \cap \varphi E)$, which is trivial because $(0,0)\in E^{\prime }$ equals $\varphi (5,0)$. Thus $[E:2E]=4\cdot 2=8$. Finite generation follows from the Mordell-Weil theorem, whose height-descent proof is supplied in the essay below. A finitely generated group with the torsion already found has $[E:2E]=2^{r+2}$, so $r=1$. HenceThe point $(-4,6)$ has infinite order, since it is not one of the torsion points. No assertion that this particular point generates the free factor is needed.

The elliptic-curve discriminant of $y^2=x^3-12x^2+20x$ is $16\cdot 20^2\cdot (144-80)=409600=2^{14}{5}^2$. Thus three and eleven are primes of good reduction. Counting the reduced points gives four points over ${\mathbb{F}}_3$ and sixteen over ${\mathbb{F}}_{11}$. For example, the numbers of affine points above successive $x=0,1,2$ modulo three are $1,1,1$. Modulo eleven, for $x=0,\dots ,10$, they are $1,2,1,2,0,0,2,2,2,2,1$; add the point at infinity in each case.

The reduction of torsion points on an elliptic curve is injective on torsion prime to the residue characteristic. The three-primary rational torsion injects into the group of order sixteen at eleven, so is trivial; likewise the eleven-primary torsion injects into the group of order four at three. Every other primary component injects at both primes. Therefore the rational torsion subgroup has order dividing four. All four rational 2-torsion points are visible, so

The rational point $P=(1,3)$ lies on the curve. The tangent slope in the elliptic-curve addition formula is $(3-24+20)/6=-1/6$, giving $2P=(361/36,-323/216)$. The integral substitution $X=x-4$ changes the equation to $y^2=X^3-28X-48$; the doubled point has $X=217/36$. The Nagell–Lutz theorem says that a rational torsion point on this integral short equation has integral coordinates, so $2P$, and hence $P$, is nontorsion. An infinite-order point is $(1,3)$.

We prove the rank bound by two-isogeny descent. For $a=-12,b=20$, the two-isogeny formula gives the partnerand maps $\varphi :E\to E^{\prime }$, $\psi :E^{\prime }\to E$ with $\psi \varphi =[2]$. The two-torsion square-class homomorphism $\alpha :E(\mathbb{Q})\to {\mathbb{Q}}^{\ast }/({\mathbb{Q}}^{\ast }{)}^2$ is $\alpha (x,y)=[x]$ away from $O,(0,0)$, with values $1$ and $[20]=[5]$ at those exceptional points. Its kernel is $\psi E^{\prime }(\mathbb{Q})$. The corresponding map ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ on $E^{\prime }$ has kernel $\varphi E(\mathbb{Q})$.

The prime-support bound in two-isogeny descent can be checked directly here. For a prime $\ell \nmid 20$, if $v_{\ell }(x)>0$ then $x^2-12x+20$ is a unit, so $2v_{\ell }(y)=v_{\ell }(x)$ is even; if $v_{\ell }(x)<0$, the $x^3$ term has strictly least valuation and $2v_{\ell }(y)=3v_{\ell }(x)$ is even. Thus the square class of $x$ is supported only on two and five. Also $x(x-2)(x-10)\ge 0$ forces $x\in [0,2]\cup [10,\infty )$, so nonzero $x$ is positive. The possible classes are $1,2,5,10$, and the four torsion points provide all of them:Consequently $\#\alpha (E(\mathbb{Q}))=4$.

The same valuation argument on $E^{\prime }$ gives possible signed classes $1,-1,2,-2$, since its coefficient $b^{\prime }=64$ has only the prime two. The identity gives class $1$, and $(-4,8)\in E^{\prime }(\mathbb{Q})$ gives class $-1$. For $d=\pm 2$, the two-isogeny descent quartic iswith integral coprime $U,V$ after scaling a rational solution. If $U$ is odd, its right side is $2$ or $10$ modulo sixteen for $d=2$, and $14$ or $6$ for $d=-2$, according to the parity of $V$. None is a square. If $U=2u$ is even, $V$ is odd and the right side is $32(\pm u^4+3u^2{V}^2\pm V^4)$. The bracket is odd for either parity of $u$, so its 2-adic valuation is five, again impossible for a square. The signed divisor-two obstruction for an isogeny covering excludes both classes. Hence ${\alpha }^{\prime }(E^{\prime }(\mathbb{Q}))=\{1,-1\}$.

For completeness, the index correction in the two-isogeny index formula over a number field is one: $\ker \psi =\{O,(0,0)\}$ and $\varphi ((2,0))=(0,0)$, so the whole kernel lies in $\varphi E(\mathbb{Q})$. ThusThe Mordell-Weil theorem and the four rational 2-torsion points identify this index as $2^{r+2}$. Therefore $2^{r+2}=8$ andThis is the rank-one elliptic curve with roots zero two and ten. We have exhibited a point of infinite order but have not needed to prove that it generates the free part.

First compute the Mordell-Weil group rank by two-isogeny descent. HereThe two-isogeny formula gives $\varphi :E\to E^{\prime }$. If $u=1+i$, then $u^4=-4$, andis an isomorphism over $K$. Its $x$-coordinate multiplier $u^2$ is a square in $K$.

Use the two-torsion square-class homomorphismFor any prime ideal of the Gaussian integers, if $v(x)>0$, then $x^2+i$ is a unit and $2v(y)=v(x)$; if $v(x)<0$, the term $x^3$ has strictly smallest valuation and $2v(y)=3v(x)$. Hence every valuation of $x$ is even. Since the Gaussian integers form a principal ideal domain, dividing by a square leaves a unit. Their units are $\{1,-1,i,-i\}$, whose square classes are $\{1,i\}$ because $-1=i^2$ and $i$ is not a square in $K$. For the latter assertion, $(a+bi{)}^2=i$ with $a,b\in \mathbb{Q}$ would imply $a^2=b^2$ and $2ab=1$, hence $a^2=1/2$, impossible for rational $a$. ThusBoth classes occur, at $O$ and $T$. This is the unit square-class bound for two-isogeny descent.

Define ${\alpha }^{\prime }$ on $E^{\prime }$ similarly, with ${\alpha }^{\prime }((0,0))=[-4i]=[i]$. Since $\theta$ multiplies nonexceptional $x$-coordinates by a square, and preserves the exceptional classes as well, its image is also $\{1,[i]\}$. The standard kernel identities in two-isogeny descent areHere $\hat{\varphi }$ is the dual isogeny and $\hat{\varphi }\varphi =[2]$. These identities can be checked directly from the formulas: $x(\hat{\varphi }(X,Y))=(Y/(2X){)}^2$, and conversely a square $x$-coordinate lets the quadratic equation for a preimage be solved using the curve equation. For example, if $x=r^2\ne 0$, the equation for $X$ is $X^2-(4x+2a)X+(a^2-4b)=0$, whose discriminant is $16(x^2+ax+b)=16(y/r{)}^2$; the $Y$-coordinate then follows from the dual formula. The exceptional points satisfy the same completed square-class criterion.

The two-isogeny index formula over a number field keeps track of a small kernel factor:In this case $\ker \hat{\varphi }=\{O,T^{\prime }\}$, where $T^{\prime }=(0,0)$, and $T^{\prime }\notin \varphi E(K)$ because ${\alpha }^{\prime }(T^{\prime })=[i]\ne 1$. Thus $\delta =2$, and the index is $2\cdot 2/2=2$. There is only one nonzero rational 2-torsion point on $E$: the other two would require $x^2=-i$, and $-i$ has the same nonsquare class as $i$. The Mordell-Weil theorem now givesso $r=0$.

It remains to identify all torsion, rather than merely the rank. The elliptic-curve discriminant is $-64i^3$, so the primes $(3)$ and $(2-i)$ have good reduction, with residue characteristics three and five. By the supplied point-count information their reduction groups have orders that are powers of two. The reduction of torsion points on an elliptic curve is injective on prime-to-residue-characteristic torsion. Every odd-primary torsion subgroup therefore injects into a group of two-power order at at least one of these two primes, and must be zero. All torsion is two-primary.

Finally, if a point had order four, its double would be $T$. The elliptic-curve addition formula givesFor $2P=T$ the denominator is nonzero, so $x^2=i$, impossible in $K$. A point of higher two-power order would have a multiple of order four, so it too is excluded. Thus the only torsion points are $O,T$. Together with rank zero,