We have to calculate the points at infinity of the following curve:
$x^2-6xy+9y^2-3z+1=0$ (in the projective space $\mathbb{P^3}$)
I know how are done this type of exercise but in this one exactly, I've got a doubt.
I've done the following:
$D=${$(x,y,z)\in\mathbb{R^3}|x^2-6xy+9y^2-3z+1=0$}
To have a homogeneous equation:
$\mathbb{D}=${$(x:y:z:t)\in\mathbb{P^3}|x^2-6xy+9y^2-3zt+t^2=0$}
So the points at infinity:
$I.P.(\mathbb{D})=${$(x:y:z:0)\in{\mathbb{P^3}|(x:y:z:0)\in{\mathbb{D}}}$}={$(x:y:z:0)\in{\mathbb{P}^3}|x^2-6xy+9y^2=0$}
So, we can differentiate the following cases:
If $\space $ $y=0 \to x=0 \to(x:y:z:0)=(0:0:z:0)$
And if $z=0$, $(0:0:z:0)=(0:0:0:0)$ and this is not possible because $(0:0:0:0)$ is not a projective point.
But if $z\neq0$, we have $(0:0:z:0)=(0:0:1:0)$
If $y\neq 0\to x=3y$ so we have $(x:y:z:0)=(3y:y:z:0)$ But what does this mean? That it has $\infty$ points at infinity? Which are like $(3:1:z:0)$ ???
Have I done the exercise well? Or, if not, I would like to know what's wrong and how can I do it in a correct way.
You're doing well: first consider the associated homogeneous polynomial $$ x^2-6xy+9y^2-3zt+t^2=0 $$ and then set $t=0$, which yields $x^2-6xy+9y^2=0$, so $x=3y$. There's no condition on $z$, so you get a whole line, namely $(3:1:k:0)$ and the point $(0:0:1:0)$.