A rational parametrization of an algebraic curve establishes a rational correspondence of this curve with the affine or projective line. This correspondence is a birational equivalence if the parametrization is proper. So, intuitively speaking, a rational parametrization determines a linear tracing of the curve, when the parameter takes values in the algebraic closure of the ground field. Such a parametrization might trace the curve once or several times. We formally introduce the concept of the tracing index of a parametrization, we show how to compute it, and we relate it to the degree of rational reparametrizations as well as to the degree of the curve. In addition, we show how to apply these results to the case of real curves, where we introduce the notion of real tracing index.
If algebraic varieties like curves or surfaces are to be manipulated by computers, it is essential to be able to represent these geometric objects in an appropriate way. For some applications an implicit representation by algebraic equations is desirable, whereas for others an explicit or parametric representation is more suitable. Therefore, transformation algorithms from one representation to the other are of utmost importance.We investigate the transformation of an implicit representation of a plane algebraic curve into a parametric representation. Various methods for computing a rational parametrization, if one exists, are described. As a new idea we introduce the concept of working with classes of conjugate (singular or simple) points on curves. All the necessary operations, like determining the multiplicity and the character of the singular points or passing a linear system of curves through these points, can be applied to such classes of conjugate points. Using this idea one can parametrize a curve if one knows only one simple point on it. We do not propose any new method for finding such a simple point. By classical methods a rational point on a rational curve can be computed, if such a point exists. Otherwise, one can express the coordinates of such a point in an algebraic extension of degree 2 over the ground field. *
In this paper we investigate the problem of determining rational parametrizations of plane algebraic curves over an algebraic extension of least degree over the field of definition. This problem reduces to the problem of finding simple points with coordinates in the field of definition on algebraic curves of genus 0. Consequently we are also able to decide parametrizability over the reals. We generalize a classical theorem of Hilbert and Hurwitz about birational transformations. An efficient algorithm for computing such optimal parametrizations is presented.
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