349]
ON A CASE OF THE INVOLUTION OF CUBIC CURVES.
315
centre, which is not a mere node but a cusp on the cubic, or instead of a merely
nodal cubic we have a cuspidal cubic; and corresponding to the one-with-twofold value
of k we have a one-with-twofold critic centre, being of course a mere node on the nodal
cubic.
5. In the case in question of a twofold and one-with-twofold value of k, the line
Xx + ¡iy + vz = 0, or say the satellite line, envelopes a curve which might be termed the
twofold and one-with-twofold envelope, but which is spoken of simply as the envelope.
The locus of the twofold centre is a curve which is called the twofold centre locus.
The locus of the one-with-twofold centre is a curve which is called the one-with-
twofold centre locus.
These definitions premised, the following results may be stated;
fi. The equation in 0 may be represented in the three equivalent forms
1 _JL 1_ _2
0+ \ Jr 0 + 6 + V 0
X /Lt V 1 A
0 + X ^ 0 + /X 0 + v
0 s — 0 (yv + v\ + Xyu,) — 2\/jlv = 0.
7. The critic value of k and the coordinates of the critic centre are then given
by the equations
k =
{0 + X) (0 + yti) ( 0 + V)
1 1
x : y : z : x + y + z : \x + /iy + vz =
0 + \ ' 0 + fX ’ 0 + v ' 0
: I : 1.
8. The condition for a twofold and one-with-twofold value of k is
X 3-f-yti 3-f-Z^ i — 0,
or, what is the same thing,
(yv + vX + X/a) 3 — 2 7X 2 yaV = 0,
which equations may either of them be considered as the line-equation of the envelope.
The equation in the coordinates (x, y, z), or point-equation of the envelope is
\/ x + v 7 y + v 7 z — 0,
or, in its rationalised form,
— 4 (yz 3 + y A z + zx 3 + z 3 x + xy 3 + x 3 y)
+ 6 (y 2 z 2 + z-x 1 + x?y-) — 124 (x-yz + xy-z + xyz~) = 0.
40—2
+ y A + &