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Questions tagged [rational-points]

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7 votes
1 answer
389 views

Why are some solutions of these diophantine equations off the usual patterns?

This is inspired by a recent question about complete multipartite integral graphs. I am wondering if more can be said about tripartite integral graphs with block sizes $a<b<c$. It is easy to see ...
2 votes
1 answer
123 views

F-points of product of closed subgroups vs. product of F-points, F a local field, reference?

Let $F$ be a finite extension of $\mathbb Q_p$, where p is an odd prime. Let $G$ be a connected reductive group defined over $F$. Let $M, H$ be closed $F$-subgroups of $G$ (in particular, I'm ...
20 votes
2 answers
2k views

Rational points on the "quintic circle" $x^5 + y^5 = 7$

I suspect that the curve $x^5 + y^5=7$ has no $\mathbb Q$ points, and a brief computer search verifies this hypothesis for denominators up to $10^4$. What techniques can be used to show that there are ...
1 vote
0 answers
96 views

Shortest paths stepping on rational points of height $h$

Q. Do shortest paths walking between rational points of height $h$ ever properly cross themselves? Explaining this question takes a bit of definitional exposition. First, I copy definitions from ...
5 votes
0 answers
150 views

Counting square zero forms over finite fields

Let $p$ be an odd prime and let $R=\Lambda_{\mathbb{F}_p}[x_1,\dots,x_n]$ be the exterior algebra on $n$ generators over the finite field with $p$ elements. This is a graded-commutative ring. Is ...
5 votes
0 answers
299 views

A relative version of Hensel's lemma?

Let $k$ be a $p$-adic field with integer ring $\mathcal{O}_k \subseteq k$, maximal ideal $m_k \subseteq \mathcal{O}_k$ and residue field $\mathbb{F}_q = \mathcal{O}_k/m_k$. Let $X$ be a smooth, ...
-1 votes
1 answer
802 views

Genus of algebraic curves with unknown degree

I am not sure if this is a valid question but posting any way: Say I am over $\mathbb{F}_{p}$ for a prime $p$. I have a curve of form $x^{2} = f(y)$ where $f(y)$ has an unknown form (and hence ...
1 vote
2 answers
203 views

Counting number of $2\times 2$ unimodular matrices of particular type

From set of numbers from $\Bbb S=\{0,1,\dots,m\}$, how many distinct $3\times 3$ unimodular matrices parametrized by $(a,b,c,d,e,f)\in\Bbb S^6$ of following type can one form? \begin{bmatrix} a^2 &...
3 votes
0 answers
559 views

Rank of the Jacobian of twists of hyperelliptic curves

Suppose that a hyperelliptic curve $C$ of genus $g \geq 4$ is given by the equation $$\displaystyle C: y^2 = a_0 x^{2g+2} + a_1 x^{2g+1} + \cdots + a_{2g+2} = f(x).$$ The Jacobian variety $J(C)$ of ...
5 votes
1 answer
427 views

Transcendental distance sets

Define a set $S \subset \mathbb{R}^d$ as a transcendental distance set if the distance between any pair of distinct points of $S$ is transcendental. For example, $S = \{ k \, \pi \;\mid\; k=1,2,\ldots ...
24 votes
1 answer
4k views

Why is there a $\sqrt{5}$ in Hurwitz's Theorem?

Hurwitz's theorem is an extension of Minkowski's Theorem and deals with rational approximations to irrational numbers. The theorem states: For every irrational number $\alpha$, there are infinitely ...
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Find all rational solutions of this diophantine-equation?

Now, today, my friend tell me this problem was posted by American Mathematical Monthly (Vol. 111, No. 2 Feb., 2004), p. 165 by Wu wei Chao ,and It is said that this problem is unsolved, until now. ...
9 votes
1 answer
962 views

Average height of rational points on a curve

I am seeking a formalism to define the average height of the rational points on a curve. This is straightforward if the number of points is finite, but (to me) not straightforward when the rational ...
4 votes
2 answers
411 views

Find all possible rational values of a parametric quartic such that it is reducible

Description: Given the following parametric quartic polynomial $y^4 - 28 z y^3 - 14 (656 - 328 z + 83 z^2) y^2 + 
4 z (-20464 + 10232 z + 3409 z^2) y + 
91 (62208 - 62208 z + 41504 z^2 - 12976 z^3 +...
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

Rational subspaces

In $\mathbb{R}^n$, we say that a linear subspace is rational if it admits a basis in $\mathbb{Q}^n$ (or equivalently in $\mathbb{Z}^n$). This means that $E\cap \mathbb{Z}^n$ is a submodule of $\mathbb{...
3 votes
2 answers
520 views

cohomological obstructions and rational points

Let $X$ a (nice) scheme over $\mathbb{Q}$. Are there cohomolgical obstructions answering the following questions: 1) is $X(\mathbb{Q})$ an empty set ? 2) is $X(\mathbb{Q})$ a finite (non empty) set ...
14 votes
1 answer
1k views

Elliptic curves and connected components

Are there elliptic curves of positive rank with two real connected components in which all the rational points lie only on one component? Concrete examples are really appreciated.
3 votes
0 answers
282 views

The uniform boundedness of rational torsion for traceless abelian surfaces over a function field

The function field analog of the theorem of Mazur-Kamienny-Merel (giving a universal bound in $[K:\mathbb{Q}]$ for the size of the $K$-rational torsion of an elliptic curve) is immediate just from the ...
12 votes
1 answer
2k views

rational points of a hyperelliptic curve

I have the following hyperelliptic curve of genus $2$: $$ y^2 = 561 x^6 - 41904 x^5 + 627264 x^4 + 11860992 x^3 - 197074944 x^2 + 124416^2 $$ I need to find all the rational points on this curve. ...
5 votes
1 answer
393 views

Maximum number of general-position points with mutual rational distances?

Richard Guy has shown that there are six points in the plane—no three collinear, no four cocircular—such that all interpoint distances are rational. Guy, Richard. Unsolved Problems in ...
4 votes
1 answer
560 views

What is the complexity of finding an integral point on an elliptic curve?

Let $E$ be an elliptic curve over rational numbers. We know that the set of integral points on $E$ is finite. What is the complexity of finding a point $P\in E(\mathbb{Z})$? Indeed I'm trying to find ...
10 votes
3 answers
683 views

Circles avoiding rational points of height $\le h$

Q. Which origin-centered circles $C(r)$ (or spheres in dimension $d$) of radius $r < 1$ avoid all rational points of height $\le h$? A rational point is a point all of whose coordinates are ...
1 vote
0 answers
211 views

Coarse moduli spaces and rational points [closed]

Let $K$ be a field (not necessarily algraically closed). Let $\mathcal{F}$ be a contravariant functor from the category of schemes over $K$ to sets and $M$ be a coase moduli space for the functor. So, ...
12 votes
1 answer
617 views

What is our current knowledge on the structure of J_0(N)(Q) and J_1(N)(Q)

The question in the title naturally breaks up in two parts, namely the torsion part and the rank part. I already read about some results on both the torsion and the rank part. And I want to know ...
12 votes
2 answers
424 views

Existence of local sections

I would like to know when the property of "having a section" for a morphism of varieties in characteristic $0$ can be detected by spreading out to characteristic $p$. Take a number field $K$, and let ...
6 votes
1 answer
518 views

Is the following consequence of the Lang conjecture known?

This came up in a discussion with a colleague of mine, who studies PDEs. He was asking for a function $f \colon \mathbb{N} \rightarrow \mathbb{N}$ such that, for all but finitely many $n$, the ...
2 votes
0 answers
120 views

Benchmark problems for computing rational points on varieties

Are there standard benchmark problem sets used for empirically evaluating algorithms designed for computing rational points on (various classes of) algebraic varieties? If so, could you please point ...
2 votes
1 answer
387 views

Question on x coordinates of Mordell Curves where $y^2=x^3+k$ and $k^2 = 1$ mod $24$

In my ongoing search for Mordell curves of rank 8 and above I have currently identified 144,499 curves of a type where $k$ is squarefree and $k^2 = 1$ mod $24$. In each case the x coordinates are ...
17 votes
1 answer
822 views

Is the perimeter of an ellipse with integer axes irrational?

Let $Q$ be an ellipse with integer-length axes $a$ and $b$: $$ \frac{x^2}{a^2} + \frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1 \;.$$ The perimeter of $Q$ is given by the complete elliptic integral of the 2nd kind, $E(\;)$: $4 ...
7 votes
0 answers
205 views

Lattice radial-step (ratchet) spirals

(30Oct13: Now solved; see Addendum.) Define a curve, a ratchet spiral, $S(r_0,\epsilon)$ as follows, where $r_0 > 0$ and $\epsilon < 1$.     $S(r_0,\epsilon)$ begins with the arc ...
3 votes
2 answers
185 views

Lattice-point-free buffers around circles

Let $C(r)$ be the origin-centered circle of radius $r$, and let $\beta(r)$ be the exterior buffer around $C(r)$: the distance from $C(r)$ to the closest lattice point exterior to $C(r)$:   &...
1 vote
0 answers
193 views

Existence of a curve with no points over finite separable field extensions

Does there exist a field $K$, and a smooth projective geometrically connected curve $C$ over $K$ such that, for all finite separable field extensions $L/K$ the curve $C$ has no $L$-rational points? I ...
9 votes
2 answers
449 views

Rational points on circular spirals

Is it the case that every unit-radius circular spiral, $$x = \cos(t)$$ $$y = \sin(t)$$ $$z = c \cdot t$$ for $c \in \mathbb{R}^+$ is dense in rational-coordinate points (i.e., all three coordinates ...
1 vote
1 answer
543 views

Infinite residue field extensions and algebraic closure of residue fields

Let $X$ be a $K$-scheme of finite type over a field $K$, let $L$ be an extension field of $K$, let $X_L := L \times_K X$, and let $p:X_L \rightarrow X$ be the projection. For each $x \in X_L$ we get ...
4 votes
1 answer
874 views

Closed points of field extension of k-scheme under projection

I really couldn't figure out the answer to the following question: Let $X$ be a scheme of finite type over a field $k$ and let $K$ be an extension field of $k$. Let $X_K := K \times_k X$ be the base ...
28 votes
6 answers
2k views

Patterns among integer-distance points

Mark each point of $\mathbb{N}^2$ ($\mathbb{N}$ the natural numbers) if its Euclidean distance from the origin is an integer. One obtains a plot like this, symmetric about the $45^\circ$ diagonal. ...
7 votes
2 answers
509 views

How can you find small denominators inside triangles?

Darsh asked over at the 20 questions seminar: Take a triangle in R^2 with coordinates at rational points. Can we find the smallest denominator point in the interior? (Consider denominator of an ...
4 votes
1 answer
741 views

Rational points on $X_0(15)$

The modular curve $X_0(15)$ has a canonical model over $\mathbf{Q}$, and it has genus $1$. As the cusp $\infty$ is rational, it is an elliptic curve. Roughly, my question is whether we can find all ...
0 votes
2 answers
400 views

"rationality" of divisors

Let $X$ be a smooth projective variety over some field $k$. Then each closed point $x$ has an associated residue field $k(x)$ which is a finite extension of $k$ and a point is rational when $k(x)=k$. ...
6 votes
1 answer
667 views

Pick's Theorem for rational points of bounded height

I wonder if the various lattice-point theorems, such as Pick's Theorem or Minkowski's Lattice Theorem, have been generalized to the collection of points with rational coordinates no more than height ...
12 votes
1 answer
361 views

What evidence is there that $\mathbb{Q}^{ab}$ is ample?

A field $K$ is called ample if every smooth curve over $K$ that has a $K$-point has infinitely many $K$-points. Examples include fraction fields of henselian rings. (This is far from trivial, but was ...
11 votes
2 answers
791 views

Geometrically unirational varieties that are not unirational

By a variety over a field $k$, I mean a scheme that is separated and of finite type over $k$. I indicate changes of the base ring by subscripts. Does there exist a smooth and projective variety $V$ ...
13 votes
1 answer
561 views

Can a harmonic number be a rational number for non-integer rational argument?

Define harmonic numbers for a complex argument $z$ as $H_z=\frac{\Gamma'(z+1)}{\Gamma(z+1)}-\Gamma'(1)$. For $n\in\mathbb{N}$, $H_n$ are usual harmonic numbers $\sum^n_{k=1} k^{-1}$ . They are ...
0 votes
0 answers
214 views

Deformation of rational points in a family

Let $\mathcal{X} \to B$ be a family of smooth projective varieties over a field $K$ (possibly finite). Assume that each fiber $\mathcal{X}_b$ of the family has a $K$-rational point. Fix a pair $(p,\...
1 vote
1 answer
241 views

Tricks to produce examples of hypersurfaces with index greater than $1$

Recall, index of an algebraic scheme $X$ is defined to be the greatest common divisor of the degrees of the space of zero cycles on $X$. I am interested in examples of hypersurfaces in $\mathbb{P}^n_K$...
6 votes
1 answer
489 views

Simple field extension and rational points

Let $F$ be an infinite field and $f$ a homogeneous form on $F$ such that $f$ has no non-trivial zero in $F$. Let $F'$ be a finite extension of $F$ such that $f$ has a non-trivial zero in $F'$. Is it ...
13 votes
1 answer
1k views

Rational points on surfaces of general type

The weak Lang conjecture asserts that rational points on a variety of general type defined over $\mathbb{Q}$ are not Zariski dense (same replacing $\mathbb{Q}$ with a number field). This one is proved ...
3 votes
0 answers
309 views

Rational points and Tesla cards

I'm rapidly approaching 300,000 curves in my ongoing search for Mordell curves of rank >=8. Currently I'm finding that I have a bottleneck in the code that locates rational points on these curves. ...
9 votes
1 answer
549 views

Varieties with infinitely many etale covers and rational points

Let $X$ be a (smooth projective geometrically connected) variety over a field $k$. Consider the set Et$(X,k)$ of finite etale covers $Y\to X$ over $k$, with $Y$ geometrically connected over $k$. ...
15 votes
3 answers
3k views

Rational Points on $y^2=x^3-86069^5$

The analytic rank of the Mordell elliptic curve $y^2=x^3-86069^5$ indicates that it has rank 2. However, deriving a set of generators, and hence the regulator, is proving to be a little bit of an ...