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If $X\subseteq {\mathbb{A}}^n$ is irreducible of dimension $d$, choose a nonzero $(n-d)$-rowed minor of a Jacobian matrix at one point of minimum tangent dimension. Its nonvanishing locus is a nonempty Zariski-open set on which the Jacobian has rank $n-d$, so every point there is smooth. Irreducibility makes every nonempty Zariski-open set dense.

Write a polynomial $f\in W$ by its coefficients. Evaluation of $f$ and of each first partial derivative at $p$ is polynomial in these coefficients and in the coordinates of $p$. Consequently the bad incidence locusis Zariski closed, and $U=(W\times k^3)\setminus B$ is Zariski open. Here a hypersurface is regarded as smooth at an ambient point outside it automatically.

In fact $B$ is empty. For homogeneous $f$ of degree $d>0$, the Euler homogeneous function theorem saysIf $(f,p)\in B$, its left side is zero while its right side is $d$, which is nonzero because $\mathrm{char}k=0$. Thus every nonzero level is covered by the smoothness of a nonzero homogeneous level set, andwhich is certainly nonempty and Zariski open.

Choose a $K$-basis $e_1,\dots ,e_n$ of $L$ and writethereby identifying $L$ with ${\mathbb{A}}_K^n$. Let $M(x)$ be the $n\times n$ matrix whose $j$th column is the coordinate vector of ${\alpha }^{j-1}$ in this basis, for $1\le j\le n$.

Write the multiplication table aswith fixed structure constants $c_{ij}^l\in K$. Repeated multiplication shows that every entry of $M(x)$ is a polynomial in $x_1,\dots ,x_n$. HenceBy the criterion supplied in the question,Consequentlywhich is a distinguished open set, and therefore a Zariski-open set. This is the determinant construction showing that primitive elements form a principal Zariski-open set. No assertion that $D$ is nonzero is needed.

Inside ${\mathbb{A}}^{n^2}$,a nonempty Zariski-open set. Affine space is smooth and irreducible; smoothness passes to open subsets, and every nonempty open subset of an irreducible space is irreducible.

The mapidentifies $G{L}_n$ with the closed hypersurfaceIn these coordinates multiplication is $(A,s)(B,t)=(AB,st)$, whose entries are polynomial functions, so it is a morphism.

A morphism ${\mathbb{A}}^n\to {\mathbb{A}}^1\setminus \{0\}$ is a polynomial with no zero. Over an algebraically closed field every nonconstant polynomial in $n$ variables has a zero: specialize all but one variable so that a nonconstant coefficient remains, then use algebraic closure. The morphism is therefore constant.

A morphism ${\mathbb{P}}^n\to {\mathbb{P}}^1$ is represented by homogeneous polynomials $F,G$ of the same degree with no common projective zero. If the degree is positive and $n\ge 2$, the Projective dimension theorem forces the two hypersurfaces $V(F)$ and $V(G)$ to meet. Thus the degree is zero and the morphism is constant.

The implicit function theorem states that if $F(x_0,y_0)=0$ and the partial derivative $D_{y}F(x_0,y_0)$ is an invertible linear map, then near $(x_0,y_0)$ the zero set of $F$ is uniquely the graph $y=g(x)$ of a continuously differentiable function.

If $f$ is a differentiable bijection with differentiable inverse $g$, the chain rule applied to $g\circ f$ and $f\circ g$ givesThus $D{f}_x$ is an isomorphism with inverse $D{g}_{f(x)}$.

If a continuously differentiable map $F:{\mathbb{R}}^n\to {\mathbb{R}}^n$ has invertible derivative everywhere, the inverse function theorem makes it a local diffeomorphism. In particular it is an open map, so its image is open. Its image need not be closed: $x\mapsto \arctan x$ has nonzero derivative everywhere and image $(-\pi /2,\pi /2)$.

For the given map of elementary symmetric polynomials,and direct evaluation of the determinant givesHence the critical set isIts complement is the Zariski-open set on which the three coordinates are pairwise distinct. Each point has one of the six possible strict coordinate orderings, and each ordering defines a nonempty convex open region. A continuous path cannot change an ordering without crossing $C$. Therefore ${\mathbb{R}}^3\setminus C$ has exactlyconnected components.

Let $X$ be an irreducible variety of dimension $d$. A point $p\in X$ is nonsingular, or smooth, whenwhere $T_{p}X$ is the Zariski tangent space; it is a singular point when $\dim T_{p}X>d$. Equivalently, the local ring ${\mathcal{O}}_{X,p}$ is regular exactly at a nonsingular point.

For an irreducible affine variety $X\subseteq {\mathbb{A}}^N$ over a perfect field, the Jacobian criterion expresses the singular locus by the vanishing of the relevant Jacobian minors, so it is Zariski closed. At a point where the tangent-space dimension is minimal it equals $d$; equivalently, some $(N-d)$-rowed Jacobian minor is nonzero. Its nonvanishing locus is therefore a nonempty Zariski-open set contained in the smooth locus. Every nonempty open subset of an irreducible topological space is dense, proving the density of the smooth locus.

Assume the ground field has characteristic other than two. Forthe partial derivatives are $2X_0,\dots ,2X_{n-1},0$. They vanish simultaneously at the unique projective pointThus this point is the singular locus of the projective quadric cone.

For varieties $X,Y$,If $Y$ is smooth of dimension $m$, the product point $(x,y)$ is singular exactly when $x$ is singular. HenceandThis is the singular locus of a product with a smooth variety.

To construct the requested examples, put $r=n-k>0$. If $r\ge 2$, let $Q_r\subseteq {\mathbb{P}}^{r+1}$ be an irreducible quadric cone of dimension $r$ with one singular vertex. If $r=1$, use instead the irreducible cuspidal cubicwhose only singular point is $[0:0:1]$. Let $W$ denote the chosen $r$-dimensional variety and embedin projective space by the Segre embedding. It is irreducible and has dimension $r+k=n$, while its singular locus is the vertex or cusp point times ${\mathbb{P}}^k$, which is nonempty and has dimension exactly $k$. This is the projective variety with a prescribed-dimensional singular locus construction.

Finally, suppose that the irreducible plane curve $C\subseteq {\mathbb{P}}^2$ were smooth of degree $d$. Since it is birational to a smooth projective curve of genus two, its geometric genus would be two. But the genus of a smooth plane curve isand no integer $d$ makes this number equal to two. Therefore $C$ cannot be smooth and must contain a singular point.

For an algebraically closed field $k$, the strong Hilbert Nullstellensatz says that every ideal $J\subseteq k[x_1,\dots ,x_n]$ satisfiesIts weak form says that $V(J)=\varnothing$ exactly when $J=(1)$. Now let $S=\mathbb{C}[x_0,\dots ,x_n]$ and let $I\subseteq S$ be a homogeneous ideal. The affine zero set of $I$ is the affine cone over $V_{+}(I)$ together with the origin. Hence, when the projective zero set is empty, eitheror the affine zero set is exactly the origin. In the latter case the Hilbert Nullstellensatz givesthe irrelevant ideal of projective space. Equivalently, some power $(x_0,\dots ,x_n{)}^N$ is contained in $I$. These are precisely the alternatives in the Projective Nullstellensatz.

Let $V\subseteq {\mathbb{P}}^3$ be a smooth quadric surface. After a projective linear transformation, the Segre embedding identifiesChoose distinct points $p,q\in {\mathbb{P}}^1$. The two fibresare the promised disjoint curves on a smooth quadric surface: each is a smooth projective line, and $C_p\cap C_q=\varnothing$. By the Bézout theorem, any two nonempty curves in the projective plane intersect. An isomorphism of algebraic varieties preserves intersections and takes projective curves to projective curves, so these disjoint curves prove

Next let $W$ be a smooth projective curve and let $f:W⇢Y\subseteq {\mathbb{P}}^N$ be a rational map to a projective variety. At a point $P$ outside its initial domain, writeusing elements of the function field $\mathbb{C}(W)$. The local ring of a smooth algebraic curve at $P$ is a discrete valuation ring. If $m={\min }_i{v}_P(f_i)$, multiplying every coordinate by a function of valuation $-m$ makes all coordinates regular at $P$ and at least one a unit there. They therefore define a morphism near $P$. Repeating this at the finitely many missing points proves the extension of a rational map from a smooth projective curve.

Smoothness is essential. Let $\nu :{\mathbb{P}}^1\to C$ be the normalization of a nodal curve for a rational nodal cubic $C$. The inverse is a rational map $C⇢{\mathbb{P}}^1$ on the smooth locus. If it extended to a morphism $g:C\to {\mathbb{P}}^1$, then $g\circ \nu$ would agree with the identity on a dense Zariski-open subset of ${\mathbb{P}}^1$ and hence everywhere. But the two distinct points $a,b\in {\mathbb{P}}^1$ above the node would satisfya contradiction. This is the failure of rational-map extension on a singular curve.

Finally take the Fermat cubic curveand define the projective hypersurfaceBecause $F$ and $xyz$ have no common irreducible factor, the bihomogeneous polynomial $sF+txyz$ is irreducible, so $Z$ is an algebraic variety. Letbe the second coordinate projection. Every homogeneous cubic in three variables has a projective zero over $\mathbb{C}$, so every fibre is nonempty and $\pi$ is a surjective morphism. Over $p=[1:0]$ the fibre is the Fermat cubic curve, which is smooth and has genusOver $q=[0:1]$ the fibre isthe union of exactly three distinct projective lines, hence exactly three irreducible components. This is the cubic pencil with a triangular member required by the question.

Two irreducible varieties $X$ and $Y$ are birational if they contain nonempty Zariski-open subsets $U\subseteq X$ and $V\subseteq Y$ that are isomorphic. Equivalently, their function fields are isomorphic:For an irreducible variety,An isomorphism of function fields preserves transcendence degree, so $\dim X=\dim Y$. This is the dimension from the function field.

Now let $K/\mathbb{C}$ be a finitely generated field extension. Choose field generators $a_1,\dots ,a_m$ and setThen $A$ is a finitely generated integral $\mathbb{C}$-algebra and $\mathrm{Frac}(A)=K$. The affine irreducible varietyhas function field $K$. Embed $X_0$ as a closed affine subvariety of some affine space ${\mathbb{A}}^N$, identify that affine space with the standard open chart of projective space ${\mathbb{P}}^N$, and take the projective closure $X$ of $X_0$. The closure of an irreducible topological space is irreducible, and $X_0$ is dense and open in $X$. Thus $X$ is a projective variety andThis constructs the projective model of a finitely generated field.

For the curveputIn its function field, the defining equation givesHence $\mathbb{C}(X)=\mathbb{C}(t)$, so $X$ is rational. Equivalently, this is the normalization of y squared equals x times x minus one squared, whose smooth projective normalization is ${\mathbb{P}}^1$ and has geometric genus zero.

A smooth projective curve in the projective plane of degree $d$ has, by the genus of a smooth plane curve formula,Its genus can be zero only for $d=1$ or $d=2$. Conversely, a projective line and every smooth conic over $\mathbb{C}$ are rational, so each is birational to $X$. Therefore the required degrees are exactly

Finally, in ${\mathbb{A}}_{x,y,z}^3$ takeThe polynomial $F$ is irreducible: as a quadratic in $y$, it could factor only if $x(x-1{)}^2$ were a square polynomial, which it is not. Thus $S$ is an irreducible affine hypersurface of dimension two. Its function field isso $S$ is birational to ${\mathbb{A}}^2$.

The partial derivatives areSolving $F=F_x=F_y=0$ gives $x=1$, $y=0$, with $z$ arbitrary. By the Jacobian criterion,This is an irreducible subvariety of dimension one, giving the requested singular cylinder over a nodal curve.

Fix a $K$-basis of a finite extension $L/K$ of degree $n$. The coordinates of $1,\alpha ,\dots ,{\alpha }^{n-1}$ are polynomial functions of the coordinates of $\alpha$, because multiplication in $L$ has fixed structure constants. The determinant $D(\alpha )$ of those coordinate columns is therefore a polynomial, andThus the primitive-element locus is the distinguished Zariski-open set $D(D)\subseteq {\mathbb{A}}_K^n$, possibly empty for a non-simple extension.

The smooth locus consists of points $P$ for which $\dim T_{X,P}=\dim X$. For an irreducible variety over a perfect field it is a nonempty Zariski-open subset and therefore dense.