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KhashF
KhashF
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Here is a calculation regarding the $2$-torsion points of the elliptic curve $y^2=x^3+1$ which looks really miraculous to me (the motivation comes at the end).

  • Take a point of $y^2=x^3+1$ and consider its sum with the $2$-torsion points. Except for finitely many cases, the $y$-coordinates of the resulting four points are distinct. The subsets of size four of the Riemann sphere formed by these $y$-coordinates are all conformally equivalent (i.e. they are the same up to automorphisms of the sphere).

This can be verified as follows: The non-identity elements of order two of the elliptic curve $y^2=x^3+1$ are given by $(-1,0)$, $(-\omega,0)$ and $(-\omega^2,0)$ where $\omega:={\rm{e}}^{\frac{2\pi{\rm{i}}}{3}}$. Given a point $(a,b)$ ($a$ and $b$ complex numbers with $b^2=a^3+1$), one can directly check that $$ (a,b)\oplus(-\lambda,0)=\left(\left(\frac{b}{a+\lambda}\right)^2-a+\lambda,-\frac{3\lambda^2b}{(a+\lambda)^2}\right). $$ for any third root of unity $\lambda$. Thus the $y$-coordinates of the points obtained from adding a $2$-torsion point to $(a,b)$ are $$ b,-\frac{3b}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2\,b}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega\,b}{(a+\omega^2)^2}. $$ These are distinct complex numbers unless $b=0$ (i.e. $(a,b)$ a $2$-torsion itself), $b=\pm 1$ (in which case $a=0$) or $b=\pm 3$ (in which case $a^3=8$). Except in these special cases, the cross-ratio of the four points appearing above is independent of $a$ and $b$: $$ T\left(b,-\frac{3b}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2\,b}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega\,b}{(a+\omega^2)^2}\right) =T\left(1,-\frac{3}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega}{(a+\omega^2)^2}\right) =T\left(-3,(a+1)^2=a^2+2a+1,\frac{(a+\omega)^2}{\omega^2}=\omega\,a^2+2\,\omega^2\,a+1,\frac{(a+\omega^2)^2}{\omega}=\omega^2\,a^2+2\,\omega\,a+1\right) =\frac{(-a^2-2a-4)((\omega-\omega^2)(a^2-2a))}{(-\omega\,a^2-2\,\omega^2\,a-4)((1-\omega^2)a^2+2(1-\omega)a)} =\omega\,\frac{(a^2+2a+4)(a-2)}{(\omega\,a^2+2\,\omega^2\,a+4)((1+\omega)a+2)}\\ =\omega\,\frac{(a-2\,\omega)(a-2\,\omega^2)(a-2)}{(a-2)(\omega\, a-2)((1+\omega)a+2)} =\omega\,\frac{a-2\,\omega}{(1+\omega)a+2}\,\frac{a-2\,\omega^2}{\omega\, a-2}=\omega\,\frac{1}{1+\omega}\frac{1}{\omega}=\frac{1}{1+\omega}.$$$$ T\left(b,-\frac{3b}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2\,b}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega\,b}{(a+\omega^2)^2}\right) =T\left(1,-\frac{3}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega}{(a+\omega^2)^2}\right)\\ =T\left(-3,(a+1)^2=a^2+2a+1,\frac{(a+\omega)^2}{\omega^2}=\omega\,a^2+2\,\omega^2\,a+1,\frac{(a+\omega^2)^2}{\omega}=\omega^2\,a^2+2\,\omega\,a+1\right) =\frac{(-a^2-2a-4)((\omega-\omega^2)(a^2-2a))}{(-\omega\,a^2-2\,\omega^2\,a-4)((1-\omega^2)a^2+2(1-\omega)a)}\\ =\omega\,\frac{(a^2+2a+4)(a-2)}{(\omega\,a^2+2\,\omega^2\,a+4)((1+\omega)a+2)}\\ =\omega\,\frac{(a-2\,\omega)(a-2\,\omega^2)(a-2)}{(a-2)(\omega\, a-2)((1+\omega)a+2)} =\omega\,\frac{a-2\,\omega}{(1+\omega)a+2}\,\frac{a-2\,\omega^2}{\omega\, a-2}=\omega\,\frac{1}{1+\omega}\frac{1}{\omega}=\frac{1}{1+\omega}.$$

Question. Is there any explanation for this observation? Is this a special case of a more general phenomenon?

Remark. This property does not hold for all elliptic curves. For instance, the $2$-torsion points of $y^2=x^3-x$ are $(0,0)$, $(\pm 1,0)$ and the identity (the point at infinity). One can directly check that for any $\lambda\in\{0,\pm 1\}$ the $y$-coordinate of $(a,b)\oplus(\lambda,0)$ is $$\frac{b\left((3\lambda^2-1)a-2\lambda^3\right)}{(a-\lambda)^3}.$$ Hence the $y$-coordinates of the translations of $(a,b)$ with $2$-torsions are $$ b,-\frac{b}{a^2},\frac{2b}{(a-1)^2},\frac{2b}{(a+1)^2}. $$ The cross-ratio of these points (in the order above) is $\frac{\left(2(1+a^2)\right)(-4a)}{(a^2-2a-1)(3a^2+2a+1)}$.

Motivation. I came across this observation through studying the rational map $f(z)=-\frac{z(z-2)^3}{(2z-1)^3}$. This is a very special rational map: it is Belyi; and, as the diagram below indicates, is induced by an endomorphism of an elliptic curve (it is a rigid Lattès map using the terminology of complex dynamics). $\require{AMScd}$ \begin{CD} \left\{y^2=x^3+1\right\}@>[-2]>> \left\{y^2=x^3+1\right\}\\ @V(x,y)\mapsto\frac{y+1}{2} V V @VV(x,y)\mapsto\frac{y+1}{2} V\\ \Bbb{CP}^1@>f>>\Bbb{CP}^1 \end{CD} The computation above shows that all regular fibers of $f$ are isomorphic as subsets of size four of $\Bbb{CP}^1$.

Here is a calculation regarding the $2$-torsion points of the elliptic curve $y^2=x^3+1$ which looks really miraculous to me (the motivation comes at the end).

  • Take a point of $y^2=x^3+1$ and consider its sum with the $2$-torsion points. Except for finitely many cases, the $y$-coordinates of the resulting four points are distinct. The subsets of size four of the Riemann sphere formed by these $y$-coordinates are all conformally equivalent (i.e. they are the same up to automorphisms of the sphere).

This can be verified as follows: The non-identity elements of order two of the elliptic curve $y^2=x^3+1$ are given by $(-1,0)$, $(-\omega,0)$ and $(-\omega^2,0)$ where $\omega:={\rm{e}}^{\frac{2\pi{\rm{i}}}{3}}$. Given a point $(a,b)$ ($a$ and $b$ complex numbers with $b^2=a^3+1$), one can directly check that $$ (a,b)\oplus(-\lambda,0)=\left(\left(\frac{b}{a+\lambda}\right)^2-a+\lambda,-\frac{3\lambda^2b}{(a+\lambda)^2}\right). $$ for any third root of unity $\lambda$. Thus the $y$-coordinates of the points obtained from adding a $2$-torsion point to $(a,b)$ are $$ b,-\frac{3b}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2\,b}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega\,b}{(a+\omega^2)^2}. $$ These are distinct complex numbers unless $b=0$ (i.e. $(a,b)$ a $2$-torsion itself), $b=\pm 1$ (in which case $a=0$) or $b=\pm 3$ (in which case $a^3=8$). Except in these special cases, the cross-ratio of the four points appearing above is independent of $a$ and $b$: $$ T\left(b,-\frac{3b}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2\,b}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega\,b}{(a+\omega^2)^2}\right) =T\left(1,-\frac{3}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega}{(a+\omega^2)^2}\right) =T\left(-3,(a+1)^2=a^2+2a+1,\frac{(a+\omega)^2}{\omega^2}=\omega\,a^2+2\,\omega^2\,a+1,\frac{(a+\omega^2)^2}{\omega}=\omega^2\,a^2+2\,\omega\,a+1\right) =\frac{(-a^2-2a-4)((\omega-\omega^2)(a^2-2a))}{(-\omega\,a^2-2\,\omega^2\,a-4)((1-\omega^2)a^2+2(1-\omega)a)} =\omega\,\frac{(a^2+2a+4)(a-2)}{(\omega\,a^2+2\,\omega^2\,a+4)((1+\omega)a+2)}\\ =\omega\,\frac{(a-2\,\omega)(a-2\,\omega^2)(a-2)}{(a-2)(\omega\, a-2)((1+\omega)a+2)} =\omega\,\frac{a-2\,\omega}{(1+\omega)a+2}\,\frac{a-2\,\omega^2}{\omega\, a-2}=\omega\,\frac{1}{1+\omega}\frac{1}{\omega}=\frac{1}{1+\omega}.$$

Question. Is there any explanation for this observation? Is this a special case of a more general phenomenon?

Remark. This property does not hold for all elliptic curves. For instance, the $2$-torsion points of $y^2=x^3-x$ are $(0,0)$, $(\pm 1,0)$ and the identity (the point at infinity). One can directly check that for any $\lambda\in\{0,\pm 1\}$ the $y$-coordinate of $(a,b)\oplus(\lambda,0)$ is $$\frac{b\left((3\lambda^2-1)a-2\lambda^3\right)}{(a-\lambda)^3}.$$ Hence the $y$-coordinates of the translations of $(a,b)$ with $2$-torsions are $$ b,-\frac{b}{a^2},\frac{2b}{(a-1)^2},\frac{2b}{(a+1)^2}. $$ The cross-ratio of these points (in the order above) is $\frac{\left(2(1+a^2)\right)(-4a)}{(a^2-2a-1)(3a^2+2a+1)}$.

Motivation. I came across this observation through studying the rational map $f(z)=-\frac{z(z-2)^3}{(2z-1)^3}$. This is a very special rational map: it is Belyi; and, as the diagram below indicates, is induced by an endomorphism of an elliptic curve (it is a rigid Lattès map using the terminology of complex dynamics). $\require{AMScd}$ \begin{CD} \left\{y^2=x^3+1\right\}@>[-2]>> \left\{y^2=x^3+1\right\}\\ @V(x,y)\mapsto\frac{y+1}{2} V V @VV(x,y)\mapsto\frac{y+1}{2} V\\ \Bbb{CP}^1@>f>>\Bbb{CP}^1 \end{CD} The computation above shows that all regular fibers of $f$ are isomorphic as subsets of size four of $\Bbb{CP}^1$.

Here is a calculation regarding the $2$-torsion points of the elliptic curve $y^2=x^3+1$ which looks really miraculous to me (the motivation comes at the end).

  • Take a point of $y^2=x^3+1$ and consider its sum with the $2$-torsion points. Except for finitely many cases, the $y$-coordinates of the resulting four points are distinct. The subsets of size four of the Riemann sphere formed by these $y$-coordinates are all conformally equivalent (i.e. they are the same up to automorphisms of the sphere).

This can be verified as follows: The non-identity elements of order two of the elliptic curve $y^2=x^3+1$ are given by $(-1,0)$, $(-\omega,0)$ and $(-\omega^2,0)$ where $\omega:={\rm{e}}^{\frac{2\pi{\rm{i}}}{3}}$. Given a point $(a,b)$ ($a$ and $b$ complex numbers with $b^2=a^3+1$), one can directly check that $$ (a,b)\oplus(-\lambda,0)=\left(\left(\frac{b}{a+\lambda}\right)^2-a+\lambda,-\frac{3\lambda^2b}{(a+\lambda)^2}\right). $$ for any third root of unity $\lambda$. Thus the $y$-coordinates of the points obtained from adding a $2$-torsion point to $(a,b)$ are $$ b,-\frac{3b}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2\,b}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega\,b}{(a+\omega^2)^2}. $$ These are distinct complex numbers unless $b=0$ (i.e. $(a,b)$ a $2$-torsion itself), $b=\pm 1$ (in which case $a=0$) or $b=\pm 3$ (in which case $a^3=8$). Except in these special cases, the cross-ratio of the four points appearing above is independent of $a$ and $b$: $$ T\left(b,-\frac{3b}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2\,b}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega\,b}{(a+\omega^2)^2}\right) =T\left(1,-\frac{3}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega}{(a+\omega^2)^2}\right)\\ =T\left(-3,(a+1)^2=a^2+2a+1,\frac{(a+\omega)^2}{\omega^2}=\omega\,a^2+2\,\omega^2\,a+1,\frac{(a+\omega^2)^2}{\omega}=\omega^2\,a^2+2\,\omega\,a+1\right) =\frac{(-a^2-2a-4)((\omega-\omega^2)(a^2-2a))}{(-\omega\,a^2-2\,\omega^2\,a-4)((1-\omega^2)a^2+2(1-\omega)a)}\\ =\omega\,\frac{(a^2+2a+4)(a-2)}{(\omega\,a^2+2\,\omega^2\,a+4)((1+\omega)a+2)}\\ =\omega\,\frac{(a-2\,\omega)(a-2\,\omega^2)(a-2)}{(a-2)(\omega\, a-2)((1+\omega)a+2)} =\omega\,\frac{a-2\,\omega}{(1+\omega)a+2}\,\frac{a-2\,\omega^2}{\omega\, a-2}=\omega\,\frac{1}{1+\omega}\frac{1}{\omega}=\frac{1}{1+\omega}.$$

Question. Is there any explanation for this observation? Is this a special case of a more general phenomenon?

Remark. This property does not hold for all elliptic curves. For instance, the $2$-torsion points of $y^2=x^3-x$ are $(0,0)$, $(\pm 1,0)$ and the identity (the point at infinity). One can directly check that for any $\lambda\in\{0,\pm 1\}$ the $y$-coordinate of $(a,b)\oplus(\lambda,0)$ is $$\frac{b\left((3\lambda^2-1)a-2\lambda^3\right)}{(a-\lambda)^3}.$$ Hence the $y$-coordinates of the translations of $(a,b)$ with $2$-torsions are $$ b,-\frac{b}{a^2},\frac{2b}{(a-1)^2},\frac{2b}{(a+1)^2}. $$ The cross-ratio of these points (in the order above) is $\frac{\left(2(1+a^2)\right)(-4a)}{(a^2-2a-1)(3a^2+2a+1)}$.

Motivation. I came across this observation through studying the rational map $f(z)=-\frac{z(z-2)^3}{(2z-1)^3}$. This is a very special rational map: it is Belyi; and, as the diagram below indicates, is induced by an endomorphism of an elliptic curve (it is a rigid Lattès map using the terminology of complex dynamics). $\require{AMScd}$ \begin{CD} \left\{y^2=x^3+1\right\}@>[-2]>> \left\{y^2=x^3+1\right\}\\ @V(x,y)\mapsto\frac{y+1}{2} V V @VV(x,y)\mapsto\frac{y+1}{2} V\\ \Bbb{CP}^1@>f>>\Bbb{CP}^1 \end{CD} The computation above shows that all regular fibers of $f$ are isomorphic as subsets of size four of $\Bbb{CP}^1$.

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KhashF
KhashF
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A curious observation on the elliptic curve $y^2=x^3+1$

Here is a calculation regarding the $2$-torsion points of the elliptic curve $y^2=x^3+1$ which looks really miraculous to me (the motivation comes at the end).

  • Take a point of $y^2=x^3+1$ and consider its sum with the $2$-torsion points. Except for finitely many cases, the $y$-coordinates of the resulting four points are distinct. The subsets of size four of the Riemann sphere formed by these $y$-coordinates are all conformally equivalent (i.e. they are the same up to automorphisms of the sphere).

This can be verified as follows: The non-identity elements of order two of the elliptic curve $y^2=x^3+1$ are given by $(-1,0)$, $(-\omega,0)$ and $(-\omega^2,0)$ where $\omega:={\rm{e}}^{\frac{2\pi{\rm{i}}}{3}}$. Given a point $(a,b)$ ($a$ and $b$ complex numbers with $b^2=a^3+1$), one can directly check that $$ (a,b)\oplus(-\lambda,0)=\left(\left(\frac{b}{a+\lambda}\right)^2-a+\lambda,-\frac{3\lambda^2b}{(a+\lambda)^2}\right). $$ for any third root of unity $\lambda$. Thus the $y$-coordinates of the points obtained from adding a $2$-torsion point to $(a,b)$ are $$ b,-\frac{3b}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2\,b}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega\,b}{(a+\omega^2)^2}. $$ These are distinct complex numbers unless $b=0$ (i.e. $(a,b)$ a $2$-torsion itself), $b=\pm 1$ (in which case $a=0$) or $b=\pm 3$ (in which case $a^3=8$). Except in these special cases, the cross-ratio of the four points appearing above is independent of $a$ and $b$: $$ T\left(b,-\frac{3b}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2\,b}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega\,b}{(a+\omega^2)^2}\right) =T\left(1,-\frac{3}{(a+1)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega^2}{(a+\omega)^2},-\frac{3\,\omega}{(a+\omega^2)^2}\right) =T\left(-3,(a+1)^2=a^2+2a+1,\frac{(a+\omega)^2}{\omega^2}=\omega\,a^2+2\,\omega^2\,a+1,\frac{(a+\omega^2)^2}{\omega}=\omega^2\,a^2+2\,\omega\,a+1\right) =\frac{(-a^2-2a-4)((\omega-\omega^2)(a^2-2a))}{(-\omega\,a^2-2\,\omega^2\,a-4)((1-\omega^2)a^2+2(1-\omega)a)} =\omega\,\frac{(a^2+2a+4)(a-2)}{(\omega\,a^2+2\,\omega^2\,a+4)((1+\omega)a+2)}\\ =\omega\,\frac{(a-2\,\omega)(a-2\,\omega^2)(a-2)}{(a-2)(\omega\, a-2)((1+\omega)a+2)} =\omega\,\frac{a-2\,\omega}{(1+\omega)a+2}\,\frac{a-2\,\omega^2}{\omega\, a-2}=\omega\,\frac{1}{1+\omega}\frac{1}{\omega}=\frac{1}{1+\omega}.$$

Question. Is there any explanation for this observation? Is this a special case of a more general phenomenon?

Remark. This property does not hold for all elliptic curves. For instance, the $2$-torsion points of $y^2=x^3-x$ are $(0,0)$, $(\pm 1,0)$ and the identity (the point at infinity). One can directly check that for any $\lambda\in\{0,\pm 1\}$ the $y$-coordinate of $(a,b)\oplus(\lambda,0)$ is $$\frac{b\left((3\lambda^2-1)a-2\lambda^3\right)}{(a-\lambda)^3}.$$ Hence the $y$-coordinates of the translations of $(a,b)$ with $2$-torsions are $$ b,-\frac{b}{a^2},\frac{2b}{(a-1)^2},\frac{2b}{(a+1)^2}. $$ The cross-ratio of these points (in the order above) is $\frac{\left(2(1+a^2)\right)(-4a)}{(a^2-2a-1)(3a^2+2a+1)}$.

Motivation. I came across this observation through studying the rational map $f(z)=-\frac{z(z-2)^3}{(2z-1)^3}$. This is a very special rational map: it is Belyi; and, as the diagram below indicates, is induced by an endomorphism of an elliptic curve (it is a rigid Lattès map using the terminology of complex dynamics). $\require{AMScd}$ \begin{CD} \left\{y^2=x^3+1\right\}@>[-2]>> \left\{y^2=x^3+1\right\}\\ @V(x,y)\mapsto\frac{y+1}{2} V V @VV(x,y)\mapsto\frac{y+1}{2} V\\ \Bbb{CP}^1@>f>>\Bbb{CP}^1 \end{CD} The computation above shows that all regular fibers of $f$ are isomorphic as subsets of size four of $\Bbb{CP}^1$.