What is an elliptic curve? (2019)

(johndcook.com)

62 points | by tzury 3 hours ago

4 comments

  • Rakshath_1 3 minutes ago
    Nice explanation of elliptic curves especially the emphasis on how the underlying field changes what the curve actually is. The transition from intuitive equations to the formal definition (smooth, projective genus one) is very well done and the Curve1174 example helps clarify why not all elliptic curves look like Weierstrass forms
  • zkmon 1 hour ago
    I prefer a more generic form:

    (y-a)(y-b) = (x-c)(x-d)(x-k)

    By varying terms on both sides or making a term as a constant, you get generalizations for conics etc.

  • commandersaki 1 hour ago
    Dr Cook has been smashing out some excellent very digestible math content lately.

    Edit: Just realised this was posted in 2019.

  • Momade 1 hour ago
    Ola