Obstructions to choosing distinct points on cubic plane curves

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Publication:1621458




Abstract: Every smooth cubic plane curve has 9 inflection points, 27 sextatic points, and 72 ``points of type nine". Motivated by these classical algebro-geometric constructions, we study the following topological question: Is it possible to continuously choose n distinct unordered points on each smooth cubic plane curve for a natural number n? This question is equivalent to asking if certain fiber bundle admits a continuous section or not. We prove that the answer is no when n is not a multiple of 9. Our result resolves a conjecture of Benson Farb.









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