Hyperelliptic curves and values of Gaussian hypergeometric series (Q2453484)

In [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 301, 77--101 (1987; Zbl 0629.12017)], \textit{J. Greene} introduced the notion of Gaussian hypergeometric series which are finite field analogues of classical hypergeometric series. Since then many interesting connexions have been established between the number of solutions of polynomial equations over a finite field and the special values of Gaussian hypergeometric series. In this paper, a nice formula is proved which express the number of \(F_q\) points on the hyperelliptic curve \(ay^2 = bx^f+c\) in terms of Gaussian hypergeometric series. Furthermore, some special values of \(_2F_1\)-Gaussian hypergeometric series containing characters of order 3 and 4 as parameters are obtained.