Cuspidal cubic Created 2026-09-29 Updated 2026-10-14
The projective algebraic curve is an irreducible cubic with a cusp at . In the chart , its equation is , with parametrization . Its affine version , used below, differs only by renaming a coordinate. At the point , the chart gives , which is smooth and exhibits its unique smooth flex of a cuspidal cubic.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 iii Paper 25 5 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Apply a projective transformation to put the cuspidal cubic in the form . Since meets at only one smooth point , the Bézout theorem forces intersection multiplicity three there. Hence is the tangent line at a flex.
The homogeneous Hessian matrix has determinantBy the Hessian criterion for a flex, every smooth flex lies in . These intersections are , the cusp, and , which is smooth. Thus the unique smooth flex of a cuspidal cubic is , with tangent line . Conversely the pair in part (b) has exactly the required properties. Therefore there is one projective-equivalence class, represented by
Cuspidal cubic in two projective charts: the cusp and its unique smooth flex
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