Points using MAGMA

MAGMA calls rational points of a curve $ C$ ``places of degree $ 1$ ''. MAGMA will find all points in all affine components at the same time. A point in the affine component $ C_1$ is denoted $ (a:b:1)$ . A point in the affine component $ C_2$ is denoted $ (1:a:b)$ . A point in the affine component $ C_3$ is denoted $ (a:1:b)$ .

> Places(C,1);
[
    Place at (0 : 1 : 0),
    Place at (0 : 0 : 1),
    Place at (1 : 0 : 0),
    Place at (4 : 2 : 1),
    Place at (3 : 2 : 1),
    Place at (3 : 4 : 1)
]
> p:=A![3,2];
> p in C;
true (3, 2)

Divisors can be defined as formal sums of points:

> P1:=Places(C,1);
> D:=P1[2]+P1[3];
> Div := DivisorGroup(C);
> D0:=Div!D;
> D0;
Divisor 1*Place at (0 : 0 : 1) + 1*Place at (1 : 0 : 0)
> D:=2*P1[2]+P1[3];
> D0:=Div!D;
> D0;
Divisor 2*Place at (0 : 0 : 1) + 1*Place at (1 : 0 : 0)



david joyner 2008-04-20