Addition of Points on an Elliptic Curve over the Reals

curve coefficients

a

b

point positions

P

Q

labels

force Q = P

curve:

2

y

=

3

x

+ -

29

10

x+4

P≈ {0.943373,1.45044}

Q≈ {-1.80663,-1.82827}

P + Q ≈ {2.28473,-3.04969}

An elliptic curve over the reals forms a group under an addition law defined by line intersection and reflection. The controls allow for various elliptic curves and various points on those curves. The elliptic curve sum of the two points and the relevant lines are shown.

Details

For two points P and Q on an elliptic curve, the addition is defined as follows. Draw the line through P and Q to intersect the curve in a third point; then reflect that point in the

x

axis. When P = Q, use the tangent line at P. The identity of the group is ∞, the "point at infinity", which conceptually lies at the top and bottom of every vertical line. This idea can be made rigorous through projective geometry. Also, note that the curve defined by

2

y

=

3

x

is not differentiable at (0, 0) and is thus excluded.

External Links

Elliptic Curve (Wolfram MathWorld)

Permanent Citation

Eric Errthum

"Addition of Points on an Elliptic Curve over the Reals"
http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/AdditionOfPointsOnAnEllipticCurveOverTheReals/
Wolfram Demonstrations Project
Published: January 13, 2009