144 ON THE MECHANICAL DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN SEXTIC CURVES. [504
2°. Here A = 0, B = 0, G = 46 (b — a), D = 46 (b + a) ; the equation contains the
factor v, and throwing out this and also the constant factor 4b, the equation is
v [(6 — a) + (b + a) w 2 ] 4- 2au = 0,
viz. v is given as a rational function of u.
3°. Here A = 4a (a — c), B = 0, (7 = 0, D = 4<a (a + c); or, dividing by 4a, the
equation is
(a — c) + 2 a uv + (a + c) wV = 0;
viz. this is
(uv + 1) [(a + c) uv + a — c] = 0,
which may be reduced to
(a + c)uv + a — c =0,
giving u or v each a rational function of the other.
I do not discuss the theory in detail, but only remark that in each case there is
a conic thrown off, and that in place of the sextic we have a unicursal (or trinodal)
quartic curve.