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David E Speyer
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$k=9$ This time, we can try $4$-torsion points and polynomials of weight $9$. There are a lot of choices, but I think a very natural one to try is $y(1,0) y(0,1) y(3,3)$. Using the identity $y(a,b) = - y(-a, -b)$, there are only $8$ terms, which I think are the following: $$y(0,1) y(1,0) y(1,1)+i y(0,1) y(1,2) y(1,1)-i y(1,0) y(2,1) y(1,1)-y(1,2) y(2,1) y(1,1)-i y(0,1) y(1,0) y(1,3)-y(0,1) y(1,2) y(1,3)+y(1,0) y(1,3) y(2,1)+i y(1,2) y(1,3) y(2,1).$$$$y(1,0) y(0,1) y(1,1)+i y(1,2) y(0,1) y(1,1)-i y(1,0) y(2,1) y(1,1)-y(1,2) y(2,1) y(1,1)-i y(1,0) y(0,1) y(1,3)-y(1,2) y(0,1) y(1,3)+y(1,0) y(2,1) y(1,3)+i y(1,2) y(2,1) y(1,3).$$ So, this is supposed to be a multiple of $\Delta^{3/4}$. Which one?

$k=9$ This time, we can try $4$-torsion points and polynomials of weight $9$. There are a lot of choices, but I think a very natural one to try is $y(1,0) y(0,1) y(3,3)$. Using the identity $y(a,b) = - y(-a, -b)$, there are only $8$ terms, which I think are the following: $$y(0,1) y(1,0) y(1,1)+i y(0,1) y(1,2) y(1,1)-i y(1,0) y(2,1) y(1,1)-y(1,2) y(2,1) y(1,1)-i y(0,1) y(1,0) y(1,3)-y(0,1) y(1,2) y(1,3)+y(1,0) y(1,3) y(2,1)+i y(1,2) y(1,3) y(2,1).$$ So, this is supposed to be a multiple of $\Delta^{3/4}$. Which one?

$k=9$ This time, we can try $4$-torsion points and polynomials of weight $9$. There are a lot of choices, but I think a very natural one to try is $y(1,0) y(0,1) y(3,3)$. Using the identity $y(a,b) = - y(-a, -b)$, there are only $8$ terms, which I think are the following: $$y(1,0) y(0,1) y(1,1)+i y(1,2) y(0,1) y(1,1)-i y(1,0) y(2,1) y(1,1)-y(1,2) y(2,1) y(1,1)-i y(1,0) y(0,1) y(1,3)-y(1,2) y(0,1) y(1,3)+y(1,0) y(2,1) y(1,3)+i y(1,2) y(2,1) y(1,3).$$ So, this is supposed to be a multiple of $\Delta^{3/4}$. Which one?

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Warning: The next part uses modular form language thatof this answer addresses the question of whether similar formulas exist for other powers of $\Delta$. I am not completely comfortable withwill interpret "similar" as "a polynomial in the $x$ and $y$-coordinates of the $N$-torsion points".

The computation with cross ratios shows that there areFor a modular form $A$$\phi$ of weight $k$, and $B$ such$g = \left[ \begin{smallmatrix} a&b \\ c&d \end{smallmatrix} \right]$ in $SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$, let $(g^{\ast} \phi)(z) = (cz+d)^{-k} \phi\left( \tfrac{az+b}{cz+d} \right)$.

Recall that the three values of $x_i x_j + x_k x_{\ell}$ are of$\Delta^{1/24}$ is the form $A + \zeta B$Dedekind $\eta$ function, for $\zeta$ running over the cube rootswhich is a modular form of weight $1$$1/2$. I think it shouldn'tfind $1/2$ integer weights confusing, so I'll only look at even powers of $\eta$. Thus, I'll be bad to show thatasking whether $A$$\Delta^{k/12} = \eta^{2k}$ could be a polynomial in $x$ and $B$ are modular forms of level$y$-coordinates. Note that $3$ and$\Delta^{k/12}$ has weight $4$$k$. I don't

For any $g \in SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$, we have $g^{\ast} \eta^2 = \chi(g) \eta^2$, where $\chi$ is a conceptual explanationcharacter from $SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$ to the twelfth roots of unity, an explicit formula for whywhich can be found in the Wikipedia article linked before. So $B$ should$g^{\ast} \Delta^{k/12} = \chi(g)^k \Delta^{k/12}$. Note that $\chi$ factors through the quotient $SL_2(\mathbb{Z}/12 \mathbb{Z})$.

Lemma For $1 \leq k \leq 12$, let $\phi$ be a cusp form but, if you believe itof weight $k$ (and some level) obeying $g^{\ast} \phi = \chi(g)^k \phi$. Then $\phi$ is, then I think it must be a scalar multiple of $\Delta^{1/3}$$\Delta^{k/12}$.

AsProof: Since $\Delta^{1/12}$ is nowhere vanishing on the upper half plane, the ratio $\phi / \Delta^{k/12}$ is holomorphic, and is invariant for other$SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$. Therefore, it is a polynomial in $j$, and we have $\phi = \Delta^{k/12} \sum_{e=0}^d c_e j^e$ for some polynomial in $j$. But, looking at $q$ series, the leading term of the right hand side is $c_d q^{k/12 - d}$, and the leading power of $\Delta$$q$ on the left hand side is positive, so $d$ must be $0$. $\square$

Now, let $\psi$ be a modular form of weight $1 \leq k \leq 11$. Let $N$ be the LCM of $12$ and the level of $\psi$. Define $$R \psi = \sum_{g \in SL_2(\mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z})} \chi(g)^k g^{\ast} \psi.$$ (Since $12$ divides $N$, it makes sense to evaluate $\chi$ on $SL_2(\mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z})$; since the level of $\psi$ divides $N$, it makes sense to talk about $g^{\ast} \psi$ similarly.) Then $R \psi$ will be a modular form of the same weight $k$, obeying $g^{\ast} \phi = \chi(g)^k \phi$. I thinkclaim furthermore that it will be a cusp form. Proof: Let $\Delta^{1/6}$$\Gamma'$ be the kernel of $\chi$. A set of coset representatives $SL_2(\mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z})/\Gamma'$ is given by $\left[ \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & x \\ 0 & 1 \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right]$ for $0 \leq x \leq 11$. So write the sum as $$\sum_{x=0}^{11} \chi\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & x \\ 0 & 1 \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right)^k \left[ \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & x \\ 0 & 1 \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right]^{\ast} \sum_{g \in \Gamma'/\Gamma(N)} g^{\ast} \phi.$$ The inner sum is a cuspmodular form for $\Gamma(6)$$\Gamma'$, which has only one cusp. The action of $ \left[ \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & x \\ 0 & 1 \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right]$ takes that cusp to itself. So the value of the whole sum at that cusp is $\sum_{x=0}^{11} \chi\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & x \\ 0 & 1 \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right)^k$ times the value of the inner sum at the cusp, and that inner sum is $0$.

So, if $\psi$ is any modular form of weight $2$$1 \leq k \leq 11$, then $R \psi$ is a scalar multiple of $\Delta^{k/12}$. TheOf course, that scalar might be $0$, but we can hope!

We now want to know that the $x$-coordinates of the $6$$N$-torsion points (including theare modular forms of level $N$ and weight $2$, and the $y$-torsioncoordinates are modular forms of level $N$ and weight $3$. So we can take a polynomial in $x$'s and $y$'s of appropriate weight, apply the $R$-operator and hope.

If we are going to have a chance, we better make sure the level is high enough. $\Delta^{k/12}$ has level $\tfrac{12}{GCD(k,12)}$, so we should take $N$ divisible by this. The most obvious thing to try is to take $N = \tfrac{12}{GCD(k,12)}$.

We identify the $N$-torsion points with $(\mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z})^2$. For $(a,b) \in (\mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z})^2$, we denote the coordinates of the corresponding torsion point as $(x(a,b), y(a,b))$. Note that the action of $SL_2(\mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z})$ on $x(a,b)$ and $y(a,b)$ is precisely the action on the vectors $(a,b)$. (Row or column vectors? I don't feel like working that hard.) should be related

I'll present cases in order of complexity:

$k=6$: $\Delta^{1/2}$ has level $2$, so we work with $2$-torsion points. We want a polynomial of weight $6$, so we try cubics in the $x$-variables. Applying $R$ to modular forms for $\Gamma(6)$$x(1,0)^2 x(0,1)$, we obtain $$x(1,0)^2 x(0,1) + x(0,1)^2 x(1,1) + x(1,1)^2 x(1,0)-x(0,1)^2 x(1,0) - x(1,1)^2 x(0,1) - x(1,0)^2 x(1,1)$$ $$=(x(1,0) - x(0,1)) (x(1,0) - x(1,1)) (x(0,1) - x(1,1)).$$ Sure enough, $$\Delta = (x(1,0) - x(0,1))^2 (x(1,0) - x(1,1))^2 (x(0,1) - x(1,1))^2.$$ This is far from the shortest way to obtain this identity, but it works.

$k=4$ This is the one the OP started with. This time, $\Delta^{1/3}$ has level $3$, so we work with $3$-torsion points. We want a polynomial of weight $2$$4$, so maybewe try quadratics in the $x$-variables. We have $x(a,b) = x(-a,-b)$, so we index the $x$-variables by the points of $\mathbb{P}^1(\mathbb{F}_3)$, written in homogenous coordinates $x(a:b)$. The action of $SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$ on the $4$ points of $\mathbb{P}^1(\mathbb{F}_3)$ is by the alternating subgroup $A_4$. So we want to take a quadratic monomial, $x(1:0) x(0:1)$ and average it with an order $3$ character of $A_4$. Writing $\omega$ for a cube root of unity, and not working hard enough to figure out which one I mean, we get that $\Delta^{1/3}$ is proportional to $$\left( x(1:0) x(0:1) + x(1:1) x(1:2) \right) + \omega \left( x(1:0) x(1:1) + x(0:1) x(1:2) \right) + \omega^2 \left( x(1:0) x(1:2) + x(0:1) x(1:1) \right)$$ as desired. Something else cute happens here: If we chose the other power of $\omega$, we get $0$. So we can find some cleveruse this to rewrite the formula in simpler ways.

$k=1$ No monomial in $x$'s and $y$'s can have weight $1$.

$k=2$ or $k=3$. So we want linear monomials in $x$'s or $y$'s. However, every torsion point is stabilized by some conjugate of $\left[ \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & \ast \\ 0 & 1 \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right]$, and averaging over this stabilizing subgroup gives $0$, so we just get $0$ if we apply $R$ to any $x(a,b)$ or $y(a,b)$. (François Brunault, in comments, states that something stronger is true: No linear combination of $x$'s or $y$'s is ever a cusp form. I think I've reconstructed the proof, but I'll leave it to him.)

That finishes the divisors of $12$. Also, $8=4+4$ and $10=4+6$, so $\Delta^{8/12}$ and $\Delta^{10/12}$ are products of things we already have. There are two other cases I find interesting: $k=5$ and $k=9$. (The case $k=7$ seems like just a messier version of $k=5$, and $11 = 5+6$, which is why I don't care so much about them.)

$k=5$: We want $12$-torsion points, and we want weight $5$, so we want products of an $x$ and a $y$. If I didn't screw up, if $(a,b)$ and $(c,d)$ fail to generate $(\mathbb{Z}/12 \mathbb{Z})^2$, then $R x(a,b) y(c,d)=0$. However, if they generate, then the result sure doesn't look like zero! I get that $$\sum_{\left[ \begin{smallmatrix} a&b \\ c&d \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right] \in SL_2(\mathbb{Z}/12 \mathbb{Z}) } \chi \left( \begin{smallmatrix} a&b \\ c&d \end{smallmatrix} \right)^5 x(a,b) y(c,d)$$ should be a scalar multiple of $\Delta^{5/12}$! Does anyone have the computational chops to work out which equalsone?

$k=9$ This time, we can try $\Delta^{1/6}$$4$-torsion points and polynomials of weight $9$. There are a lot of choices, but I think a very natural one to try is $y(1,0) y(0,1) y(3,3)$. Using the identity $y(a,b) = - y(-a, -b)$, there are only $8$ terms, which I think are the following: $$y(0,1) y(1,0) y(1,1)+i y(0,1) y(1,2) y(1,1)-i y(1,0) y(2,1) y(1,1)-y(1,2) y(2,1) y(1,1)-i y(0,1) y(1,0) y(1,3)-y(0,1) y(1,2) y(1,3)+y(1,0) y(1,3) y(2,1)+i y(1,2) y(1,3) y(2,1).$$ So, this is supposed to be a multiple of $\Delta^{3/4}$. Which one?

Warning: The next part uses modular form language that I am not completely comfortable with.

The computation with cross ratios shows that there are $A$ and $B$ such that the three values of $x_i x_j + x_k x_{\ell}$ are of the form $A + \zeta B$, for $\zeta$ running over the cube roots of $1$. I think it shouldn't be bad to show that $A$ and $B$ are modular forms of level $3$ and weight $4$. I don't have a conceptual explanation for why $B$ should be a cusp form but, if you believe it is, then I think it must be a multiple of $\Delta^{1/3}$.

As for other power of $\Delta$, I think that $\Delta^{1/6}$ is a cusp form for $\Gamma(6)$ of weight $2$. The $x$-coordinates of the $6$-torsion points (including the $2$-torsion and $3$-torsion) should be related to modular forms for $\Gamma(6)$ of weight $2$, so maybe we can find some clever linear combination of them which equals $\Delta^{1/6}$.

The next part of this answer addresses the question of whether similar formulas exist for other powers of $\Delta$. I will interpret "similar" as "a polynomial in the $x$ and $y$-coordinates of the $N$-torsion points".

For a modular form $\phi$ of weight $k$, and $g = \left[ \begin{smallmatrix} a&b \\ c&d \end{smallmatrix} \right]$ in $SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$, let $(g^{\ast} \phi)(z) = (cz+d)^{-k} \phi\left( \tfrac{az+b}{cz+d} \right)$.

Recall that $\Delta^{1/24}$ is the Dedekind $\eta$ function, which is a modular form of weight $1/2$. I find $1/2$ integer weights confusing, so I'll only look at even powers of $\eta$. Thus, I'll be asking whether $\Delta^{k/12} = \eta^{2k}$ could be a polynomial in $x$ and $y$-coordinates. Note that $\Delta^{k/12}$ has weight $k$.

For any $g \in SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$, we have $g^{\ast} \eta^2 = \chi(g) \eta^2$, where $\chi$ is a character from $SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$ to the twelfth roots of unity, an explicit formula for which can be found in the Wikipedia article linked before. So $g^{\ast} \Delta^{k/12} = \chi(g)^k \Delta^{k/12}$. Note that $\chi$ factors through the quotient $SL_2(\mathbb{Z}/12 \mathbb{Z})$.

Lemma For $1 \leq k \leq 12$, let $\phi$ be a cusp form of weight $k$ (and some level) obeying $g^{\ast} \phi = \chi(g)^k \phi$. Then $\phi$ is a scalar multiple of $\Delta^{k/12}$.

Proof: Since $\Delta^{1/12}$ is nowhere vanishing on the upper half plane, the ratio $\phi / \Delta^{k/12}$ is holomorphic, and is invariant for $SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$. Therefore, it is a polynomial in $j$, and we have $\phi = \Delta^{k/12} \sum_{e=0}^d c_e j^e$ for some polynomial in $j$. But, looking at $q$ series, the leading term of the right hand side is $c_d q^{k/12 - d}$, and the leading power of $q$ on the left hand side is positive, so $d$ must be $0$. $\square$

Now, let $\psi$ be a modular form of weight $1 \leq k \leq 11$. Let $N$ be the LCM of $12$ and the level of $\psi$. Define $$R \psi = \sum_{g \in SL_2(\mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z})} \chi(g)^k g^{\ast} \psi.$$ (Since $12$ divides $N$, it makes sense to evaluate $\chi$ on $SL_2(\mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z})$; since the level of $\psi$ divides $N$, it makes sense to talk about $g^{\ast} \psi$ similarly.) Then $R \psi$ will be a modular form of the same weight $k$, obeying $g^{\ast} \phi = \chi(g)^k \phi$. I claim furthermore that it will be a cusp form. Proof: Let $\Gamma'$ be the kernel of $\chi$. A set of coset representatives $SL_2(\mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z})/\Gamma'$ is given by $\left[ \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & x \\ 0 & 1 \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right]$ for $0 \leq x \leq 11$. So write the sum as $$\sum_{x=0}^{11} \chi\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & x \\ 0 & 1 \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right)^k \left[ \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & x \\ 0 & 1 \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right]^{\ast} \sum_{g \in \Gamma'/\Gamma(N)} g^{\ast} \phi.$$ The inner sum is a modular form for $\Gamma'$, which has only one cusp. The action of $ \left[ \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & x \\ 0 & 1 \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right]$ takes that cusp to itself. So the value of the whole sum at that cusp is $\sum_{x=0}^{11} \chi\left( \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & x \\ 0 & 1 \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right)^k$ times the value of the inner sum at the cusp, and that inner sum is $0$.

So, if $\psi$ is any modular form of weight $1 \leq k \leq 11$, then $R \psi$ is a scalar multiple of $\Delta^{k/12}$. Of course, that scalar might be $0$, but we can hope!

We now want to know that the $x$-coordinates of $N$-torsion points are modular forms of level $N$ and weight $2$, and the $y$-coordinates are modular forms of level $N$ and weight $3$. So we can take a polynomial in $x$'s and $y$'s of appropriate weight, apply the $R$-operator and hope.

If we are going to have a chance, we better make sure the level is high enough. $\Delta^{k/12}$ has level $\tfrac{12}{GCD(k,12)}$, so we should take $N$ divisible by this. The most obvious thing to try is to take $N = \tfrac{12}{GCD(k,12)}$.

We identify the $N$-torsion points with $(\mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z})^2$. For $(a,b) \in (\mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z})^2$, we denote the coordinates of the corresponding torsion point as $(x(a,b), y(a,b))$. Note that the action of $SL_2(\mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z})$ on $x(a,b)$ and $y(a,b)$ is precisely the action on the vectors $(a,b)$. (Row or column vectors? I don't feel like working that hard.)

I'll present cases in order of complexity:

$k=6$: $\Delta^{1/2}$ has level $2$, so we work with $2$-torsion points. We want a polynomial of weight $6$, so we try cubics in the $x$-variables. Applying $R$ to $x(1,0)^2 x(0,1)$, we obtain $$x(1,0)^2 x(0,1) + x(0,1)^2 x(1,1) + x(1,1)^2 x(1,0)-x(0,1)^2 x(1,0) - x(1,1)^2 x(0,1) - x(1,0)^2 x(1,1)$$ $$=(x(1,0) - x(0,1)) (x(1,0) - x(1,1)) (x(0,1) - x(1,1)).$$ Sure enough, $$\Delta = (x(1,0) - x(0,1))^2 (x(1,0) - x(1,1))^2 (x(0,1) - x(1,1))^2.$$ This is far from the shortest way to obtain this identity, but it works.

$k=4$ This is the one the OP started with. This time, $\Delta^{1/3}$ has level $3$, so we work with $3$-torsion points. We want a polynomial of weight $4$, so we try quadratics in the $x$-variables. We have $x(a,b) = x(-a,-b)$, so we index the $x$-variables by the points of $\mathbb{P}^1(\mathbb{F}_3)$, written in homogenous coordinates $x(a:b)$. The action of $SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$ on the $4$ points of $\mathbb{P}^1(\mathbb{F}_3)$ is by the alternating subgroup $A_4$. So we want to take a quadratic monomial, $x(1:0) x(0:1)$ and average it with an order $3$ character of $A_4$. Writing $\omega$ for a cube root of unity, and not working hard enough to figure out which one I mean, we get that $\Delta^{1/3}$ is proportional to $$\left( x(1:0) x(0:1) + x(1:1) x(1:2) \right) + \omega \left( x(1:0) x(1:1) + x(0:1) x(1:2) \right) + \omega^2 \left( x(1:0) x(1:2) + x(0:1) x(1:1) \right)$$ as desired. Something else cute happens here: If we chose the other power of $\omega$, we get $0$. So we can use this to rewrite the formula in simpler ways.

$k=1$ No monomial in $x$'s and $y$'s can have weight $1$.

$k=2$ or $k=3$. So we want linear monomials in $x$'s or $y$'s. However, every torsion point is stabilized by some conjugate of $\left[ \begin{smallmatrix} 1 & \ast \\ 0 & 1 \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right]$, and averaging over this stabilizing subgroup gives $0$, so we just get $0$ if we apply $R$ to any $x(a,b)$ or $y(a,b)$. (François Brunault, in comments, states that something stronger is true: No linear combination of $x$'s or $y$'s is ever a cusp form. I think I've reconstructed the proof, but I'll leave it to him.)

That finishes the divisors of $12$. Also, $8=4+4$ and $10=4+6$, so $\Delta^{8/12}$ and $\Delta^{10/12}$ are products of things we already have. There are two other cases I find interesting: $k=5$ and $k=9$. (The case $k=7$ seems like just a messier version of $k=5$, and $11 = 5+6$, which is why I don't care so much about them.)

$k=5$: We want $12$-torsion points, and we want weight $5$, so we want products of an $x$ and a $y$. If I didn't screw up, if $(a,b)$ and $(c,d)$ fail to generate $(\mathbb{Z}/12 \mathbb{Z})^2$, then $R x(a,b) y(c,d)=0$. However, if they generate, then the result sure doesn't look like zero! I get that $$\sum_{\left[ \begin{smallmatrix} a&b \\ c&d \\ \end{smallmatrix} \right] \in SL_2(\mathbb{Z}/12 \mathbb{Z}) } \chi \left( \begin{smallmatrix} a&b \\ c&d \end{smallmatrix} \right)^5 x(a,b) y(c,d)$$ should be a scalar multiple of $\Delta^{5/12}$! Does anyone have the computational chops to work out which one?

$k=9$ This time, we can try $4$-torsion points and polynomials of weight $9$. There are a lot of choices, but I think a very natural one to try is $y(1,0) y(0,1) y(3,3)$. Using the identity $y(a,b) = - y(-a, -b)$, there are only $8$ terms, which I think are the following: $$y(0,1) y(1,0) y(1,1)+i y(0,1) y(1,2) y(1,1)-i y(1,0) y(2,1) y(1,1)-y(1,2) y(2,1) y(1,1)-i y(0,1) y(1,0) y(1,3)-y(0,1) y(1,2) y(1,3)+y(1,0) y(1,3) y(2,1)+i y(1,2) y(1,3) y(2,1).$$ So, this is supposed to be a multiple of $\Delta^{3/4}$. Which one?

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David E Speyer
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Here is an algebraic proof, without a ton of insight. To make life easier, let's put our curve into reduced Weierstrass form, $y^2 = x^3+a_4 x + a_6$. We put $f(x) = x^3+a_4 x + a_6$. The $3$-torsion points are the flexes, meaning the points where $\tfrac{d^2 y}{(dx)^2}=0$. We compute $$\frac{d^2 y}{(dx)^2} = \frac{d^2 }{(dx)^2} f(x)^{1/2} = (1/2) f'' f^{-1/2} - (1/4) (f')^2 f^{-3/2}=\frac{2 f'' f - (f')^2}{4 f^{3/2}}.$$ So the $x$-coordinates of the $3$-torsion points are the roots of $$2 f'' f - (f')^2 = 3 x^4 + 6 a_4 x^2 + 12 a_6 x - a_4^2.$$ We deduce that the elementary symmetric polynomials in $(x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4)$ take the values $$e_1(x)=0,\ e_2(x)=2 a_4,\ e_3(x) = -4 a_6,\ e_4(x) = -a_4^2/3 . (\ast)$$

Expanding $(y-x_1 x_2 - x_3 x_4)(y-x_1 x_3 - x_2 x_4)(y-x_1 x_4 - x_2 x_3)$ gives a polynomial in $y$ whose coefficients are elementary symmetric polynomials in $(x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4)$. By the fundamental theorem of symmetric polynomials, we can write the coefficients of this cubic as polynomials in the $e_j(x)$, and then plug in the formulas from $(\ast)$. (If you use Mathematica, the SymmetricReduction command will do this for you.) I get that this cubic is $$y^3 - 2 a_4 y^2 + \tfrac{4}{3} a_4^2 y - \tfrac{8}{3} a_4^3 - 16 a_6^2$$ $$=y^3 - b_4 y^2 + \tfrac{1}{3} b_4^2 y - \tfrac{1}{3} b_4^3 - 16 a_6^2 = (y-b_4/3)^3 - \tfrac{8}{27} b_4^3 - 16 a_6^2.$$

So the values of $x_i x_j + x_k x_{\ell}$ are $$\tfrac{b_4}{3} + \sqrt[3]{\tfrac{8}{27} b_4^3 - 16 a_6^2} = \frac{b_4 + \sqrt[3]{64 a_4^3 - 432 a_6^2}}{3} = \frac{b_4 + \sqrt[3]{\Delta}}{3}$$ or $$\sqrt[3]{\Delta} = - b_4 + 3(x_i x_j + x_k x_{\ell}).$$ In an earlier draft I said that $64 a_4^3 - 432 a_6^2 = 16 (4 a_4^3 - 27 a_6^2)$ was $16 \Delta$, but apparently the $\Delta$ that shows up in modular forms is $16$ times the classical discriminant of the cubic equation. Thanks to Sylivan JULIEN for pointing this out.


Here is a conceptual explanation for a big piece of this. For any $x_1$, $x_2$, $x_3$, $x_4$, note that $$\frac{(x_1 x_2 + x_3 x_4) - (x_1 x_3 + x_2 x_4)}{(x_1 x_2 + x_3 x_4) - (x_1 x_4 + x_2 x_3)} = \frac{(x_1 - x_4)(x_2 - x_3)}{(x_1 - x_4)(x_2 - x_3)}$$ which is the cross ratio $c(x_1, x_2 : x_3, x_4)$. We want to show that this ratio is a cube root of unity, so we want to show that the cross ratio of $x_1$, $x_2$, $x_3$, $x_4$ is a cube root of unity.

This computation turns out to be easiest when the cube is not in Weierstrass form but Hessian form: $X^3+Y^3+Z^3 = a XYZ$. The flexes of this curve are the $9$ points with homogenous coordinates $(1:-\zeta:0)$, $(0:1:-\zeta)$ and $(-\zeta:0:1)$ with $\zeta^3=1$. If we take $(1:-1:0)$ to be the origin of our curve, then negation is $(X:Y:Z) \mapsto (Y:X:Z)$ and we can take the quotient by negation to be given by the rational map $(X:Y:Z) \mapsto \tfrac{X+Y}{Z}$$(X:Y:Z) \mapsto \tfrac{Z}{X+Y}$ (this also takes $(1:-1:0)$ to $\infty$, so it might be something like the $x$-coordinate). The $8$ non-identity flexes map to $\infty$$0$ and to the $3$ cube roots of $-1$, whose cross ratio is as required.


Warning: The next part uses modular form language that I am not completely comfortable with.

The computation with cross ratios shows that there are $A$ and $B$ such that the three values of $x_i x_j + x_k x_{\ell}$ are of the form $A + \zeta B$, for $\zeta$ running over the cube roots of $1$. I think it shouldn't be bad to show that $A$ and $B$ are modular forms of level $3$ and weight $4$. I don't have a conceptual explanation for why $B$ should be a cusp form but, if you believe it is, then I think it must be a multiple of $\Delta^{1/3}$.

As for other power of $\Delta$, I think that $\Delta^{1/6}$ is a cusp form for $\Gamma(6)$ of weight $2$. The $x$-coordinates of the $6$-torsion points (including the $2$-torsion and $3$-torsion) should be related to modular forms for $\Gamma(6)$ of weight $2$, so maybe we can find some clever linear combination of them which equals $\Delta^{1/6}$.

Here is an algebraic proof, without a ton of insight. To make life easier, let's put our curve into reduced Weierstrass form, $y^2 = x^3+a_4 x + a_6$. We put $f(x) = x^3+a_4 x + a_6$. The $3$-torsion points are the flexes, meaning the points where $\tfrac{d^2 y}{(dx)^2}=0$. We compute $$\frac{d^2 y}{(dx)^2} = \frac{d^2 }{(dx)^2} f(x)^{1/2} = (1/2) f'' f^{-1/2} - (1/4) (f')^2 f^{-3/2}=\frac{2 f'' f - (f')^2}{4 f^{3/2}}.$$ So the $x$-coordinates of the $3$-torsion points are the roots of $$2 f'' f - (f')^2 = 3 x^4 + 6 a_4 x^2 + 12 a_6 x - a_4^2.$$ We deduce that the elementary symmetric polynomials in $(x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4)$ take the values $$e_1(x)=0,\ e_2(x)=2 a_4,\ e_3(x) = -4 a_6,\ e_4(x) = -a_4^2/3 . (\ast)$$

Expanding $(y-x_1 x_2 - x_3 x_4)(y-x_1 x_3 - x_2 x_4)(y-x_1 x_4 - x_2 x_3)$ gives a polynomial in $y$ whose coefficients are elementary symmetric polynomials in $(x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4)$. By the fundamental theorem of symmetric polynomials, we can write the coefficients of this cubic as polynomials in the $e_j(x)$, and then plug in the formulas from $(\ast)$. (If you use Mathematica, the SymmetricReduction command will do this for you.) I get that this cubic is $$y^3 - 2 a_4 y^2 + \tfrac{4}{3} a_4^2 y - \tfrac{8}{3} a_4^3 - 16 a_6^2$$ $$=y^3 - b_4 y^2 + \tfrac{1}{3} b_4^2 y - \tfrac{1}{3} b_4^3 - 16 a_6^2 = (y-b_4/3)^3 - \tfrac{8}{27} b_4^3 - 16 a_6^2.$$

So the values of $x_i x_j + x_k x_{\ell}$ are $$\tfrac{b_4}{3} + \sqrt[3]{\tfrac{8}{27} b_4^3 - 16 a_6^2} = \frac{b_4 + \sqrt[3]{64 a_4^3 - 432 a_6^2}}{3} = \frac{b_4 + \sqrt[3]{\Delta}}{3}$$ or $$\sqrt[3]{\Delta} = - b_4 + 3(x_i x_j + x_k x_{\ell}).$$ In an earlier draft I said that $64 a_4^3 - 432 a_6^2 = 16 (4 a_4^3 - 27 a_6^2)$ was $16 \Delta$, but apparently the $\Delta$ that shows up in modular forms is $16$ times the classical discriminant of the cubic equation. Thanks to Sylivan JULIEN for pointing this out.


Here is a conceptual explanation for a big piece of this. For any $x_1$, $x_2$, $x_3$, $x_4$, note that $$\frac{(x_1 x_2 + x_3 x_4) - (x_1 x_3 + x_2 x_4)}{(x_1 x_2 + x_3 x_4) - (x_1 x_4 + x_2 x_3)} = \frac{(x_1 - x_4)(x_2 - x_3)}{(x_1 - x_4)(x_2 - x_3)}$$ which is the cross ratio $c(x_1, x_2 : x_3, x_4)$. We want to show that this ratio is a cube root of unity, so we want to show that the cross ratio of $x_1$, $x_2$, $x_3$, $x_4$ is a cube root of unity.

This computation turns out to be easiest when the cube is not in Weierstrass form but Hessian form: $X^3+Y^3+Z^3 = a XYZ$. The flexes of this curve are the $9$ points with homogenous coordinates $(1:-\zeta:0)$, $(0:1:-\zeta)$ and $(-\zeta:0:1)$ with $\zeta^3=1$. If we take $(1:-1:0)$ to be the origin of our curve, then negation is $(X:Y:Z) \mapsto (Y:X:Z)$ and we can take the quotient by negation to be given by the rational map $(X:Y:Z) \mapsto \tfrac{X+Y}{Z}$. The $8$ non-identity flexes map to $\infty$ and to the $3$ cube roots of $-1$, whose cross ratio is as required.


Warning: The next part uses modular form language that I am not completely comfortable with.

The computation with cross ratios shows that there are $A$ and $B$ such that the three values of $x_i x_j + x_k x_{\ell}$ are of the form $A + \zeta B$, for $\zeta$ running over the cube roots of $1$. I think it shouldn't be bad to show that $A$ and $B$ are modular forms of level $3$ and weight $4$. I don't have a conceptual explanation for why $B$ should be a cusp form but, if you believe it is, then I think it must be a multiple of $\Delta^{1/3}$.

As for other power of $\Delta$, I think that $\Delta^{1/6}$ is a cusp form for $\Gamma(6)$ of weight $2$. The $x$-coordinates of the $6$-torsion points (including the $2$-torsion and $3$-torsion) should be related to modular forms for $\Gamma(6)$ of weight $2$, so maybe we can find some clever linear combination of them which equals $\Delta^{1/6}$.

Here is an algebraic proof, without a ton of insight. To make life easier, let's put our curve into reduced Weierstrass form, $y^2 = x^3+a_4 x + a_6$. We put $f(x) = x^3+a_4 x + a_6$. The $3$-torsion points are the flexes, meaning the points where $\tfrac{d^2 y}{(dx)^2}=0$. We compute $$\frac{d^2 y}{(dx)^2} = \frac{d^2 }{(dx)^2} f(x)^{1/2} = (1/2) f'' f^{-1/2} - (1/4) (f')^2 f^{-3/2}=\frac{2 f'' f - (f')^2}{4 f^{3/2}}.$$ So the $x$-coordinates of the $3$-torsion points are the roots of $$2 f'' f - (f')^2 = 3 x^4 + 6 a_4 x^2 + 12 a_6 x - a_4^2.$$ We deduce that the elementary symmetric polynomials in $(x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4)$ take the values $$e_1(x)=0,\ e_2(x)=2 a_4,\ e_3(x) = -4 a_6,\ e_4(x) = -a_4^2/3 . (\ast)$$

Expanding $(y-x_1 x_2 - x_3 x_4)(y-x_1 x_3 - x_2 x_4)(y-x_1 x_4 - x_2 x_3)$ gives a polynomial in $y$ whose coefficients are elementary symmetric polynomials in $(x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4)$. By the fundamental theorem of symmetric polynomials, we can write the coefficients of this cubic as polynomials in the $e_j(x)$, and then plug in the formulas from $(\ast)$. (If you use Mathematica, the SymmetricReduction command will do this for you.) I get that this cubic is $$y^3 - 2 a_4 y^2 + \tfrac{4}{3} a_4^2 y - \tfrac{8}{3} a_4^3 - 16 a_6^2$$ $$=y^3 - b_4 y^2 + \tfrac{1}{3} b_4^2 y - \tfrac{1}{3} b_4^3 - 16 a_6^2 = (y-b_4/3)^3 - \tfrac{8}{27} b_4^3 - 16 a_6^2.$$

So the values of $x_i x_j + x_k x_{\ell}$ are $$\tfrac{b_4}{3} + \sqrt[3]{\tfrac{8}{27} b_4^3 - 16 a_6^2} = \frac{b_4 + \sqrt[3]{64 a_4^3 - 432 a_6^2}}{3} = \frac{b_4 + \sqrt[3]{\Delta}}{3}$$ or $$\sqrt[3]{\Delta} = - b_4 + 3(x_i x_j + x_k x_{\ell}).$$ In an earlier draft I said that $64 a_4^3 - 432 a_6^2 = 16 (4 a_4^3 - 27 a_6^2)$ was $16 \Delta$, but apparently the $\Delta$ that shows up in modular forms is $16$ times the classical discriminant of the cubic equation. Thanks to Sylivan JULIEN for pointing this out.


Here is a conceptual explanation for a big piece of this. For any $x_1$, $x_2$, $x_3$, $x_4$, note that $$\frac{(x_1 x_2 + x_3 x_4) - (x_1 x_3 + x_2 x_4)}{(x_1 x_2 + x_3 x_4) - (x_1 x_4 + x_2 x_3)} = \frac{(x_1 - x_4)(x_2 - x_3)}{(x_1 - x_4)(x_2 - x_3)}$$ which is the cross ratio $c(x_1, x_2 : x_3, x_4)$. We want to show that this ratio is a cube root of unity, so we want to show that the cross ratio of $x_1$, $x_2$, $x_3$, $x_4$ is a cube root of unity.

This computation turns out to be easiest when the cube is not in Weierstrass form but Hessian form: $X^3+Y^3+Z^3 = a XYZ$. The flexes of this curve are the $9$ points with homogenous coordinates $(1:-\zeta:0)$, $(0:1:-\zeta)$ and $(-\zeta:0:1)$ with $\zeta^3=1$. If we take $(1:-1:0)$ to be the origin of our curve, then negation is $(X:Y:Z) \mapsto (Y:X:Z)$ and we can take the quotient by negation to be given by the rational map $(X:Y:Z) \mapsto \tfrac{Z}{X+Y}$ (this also takes $(1:-1:0)$ to $\infty$, so it might be something like the $x$-coordinate). The $8$ non-identity flexes map to $0$ and to the $3$ cube roots of $-1$, whose cross ratio is as required.


Warning: The next part uses modular form language that I am not completely comfortable with.

The computation with cross ratios shows that there are $A$ and $B$ such that the three values of $x_i x_j + x_k x_{\ell}$ are of the form $A + \zeta B$, for $\zeta$ running over the cube roots of $1$. I think it shouldn't be bad to show that $A$ and $B$ are modular forms of level $3$ and weight $4$. I don't have a conceptual explanation for why $B$ should be a cusp form but, if you believe it is, then I think it must be a multiple of $\Delta^{1/3}$.

As for other power of $\Delta$, I think that $\Delta^{1/6}$ is a cusp form for $\Gamma(6)$ of weight $2$. The $x$-coordinates of the $6$-torsion points (including the $2$-torsion and $3$-torsion) should be related to modular forms for $\Gamma(6)$ of weight $2$, so maybe we can find some clever linear combination of them which equals $\Delta^{1/6}$.

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