Paper 2, Section II, I

Algebraic Geometry | Part II, 2018

(a) Let X⊆AnX \subseteq \mathbf{A}^{n} be an affine algebraic variety defined over the field kk.

Define the tangent space TpXT_{p} X for p∈Xp \in X, and the dimension of XX in terms of TpXT_{p} X.

Suppose that kk is an algebraically closed field with char k>0k>0. Show directly from your definition that if X=Z(f)X=Z(f), where f∈k[x1,…,xn]f \in k\left[x_{1}, \ldots, x_{n}\right] is irreducible, then dim⁡X=n−1\operatorname{dim} X=n-1.

[Any form of the Nullstellensatz may be used if you state it clearly.]

(b) Suppose that char k=0k=0, and let WW be the vector space of homogeneous polynomials of degree dd in 3 variables over kk. Show that

U={(f,p)∈W×k3∣Z(f−1) is a smooth surface at p}U=\left\{(f, p) \in W \times k^{3} \mid Z(f-1) \text { is a smooth surface at } p\right\}

is a non-empty Zariski open subset of W×k3W \times k^{3}.

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