Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / ii / Paper 4 / 24H / Solution

For a divisor on an algebraic curve $D={\sum }_p{a}_{p}p$ over an algebraically closed field, its degree isFor a nonzero rational function $f$, its principal divisor iswhere zeros have positive order and poles have negative order.

Now let $D={\sum }_i{a}_i{p}_i$ have degree zero on the projective line. Choose a homogeneous linear form $L_i(X_0,X_1)$ whose zero is $p_i$. Since ${\sum }_i{a}_i=0$, the expressionis homogeneous of degree zero and therefore defines a rational function on ${\mathbb{P}}^1$. Each $L_i$ has one simple zero, and the cancellation of total degree removes any common scaling ambiguity, soThus every degree-zero divisor on ${\mathbb{P}}^1$ is principal. If $E$ and $E^{\prime }$ have the same degree, then $E-E^{\prime }$ is principal, whenceThis is the divisor class on the projective line.

Write $p_{\infty }=[1:0]$. The coordinate $t=X_0/X_1$ has no critical zero or pole in the finite chart. Near infinity use $s=X_1/X_0=t^{-1}$; thenHence the rational differential has one double pole at infinity and no other zero or pole:which represents the canonical divisor of the projective line.

If $D\sim m{K}_{{\mathbb{P}}^1}$, then $D\sim -2m{p}_{\infty }$, and linear equivalence of divisors gives $L(D)\cong L(-2m{p}_{\infty })$. A function in the latter space has no finite poles, so it is a polynomial, and its degree is at most $-2m$. ThereforeThis calculation uses only the rational functions on ${\mathbb{P}}^1$, rather than the Riemann-Roch theorem.

Finally, suppose distinct $p,q\in C$ satisfy $p-q=(f)$. The function $f$ has one simple pole and therefore defines a degree-one finite morphism $f:C\to {\mathbb{P}}^1$. A degree-one finite morphism between smooth projective curves is an isomorphism. It would follow that $C\cong {\mathbb{P}}^1$ and hence that $C$ has genus zero, contrary to the hypothesis. Thus the principal divisor with one simple zero and one simple pole cannot occur on $C$:

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.