Math Report Template

The Integration of Quitting
Sivan Jadhav
Passion Project, 2023-24, G9
Abstract
This paper delves into the concepts which direct when to

quit with the help mathematics, a concept that explores the
rational things behind decision-making. In our daily lives, a
substantial majority of decisions (approximately 95%) are
driven by irrational or emotional impulses. Harnessing the
power of mathematics, we aim to elevate the rationality
quotient in decision-making processes. However, the
complexity lies in the recognition that not all options are
visible, necessitating the crucial aspect of knowing when to
quit. The central theme of this research revolves around
finding the near-perfect moment to cease exploration,
transition from uncertainty, and ultimately arrive at a well-
informed decision.
Acknowledgements
I am beholden to my advisor, Kristian Ranestad, for introducing me to a deeply

fascinating thesis topic. His perseverance in the most daunting stages of the
research has been crucial. Even though I still feel a novice at them, I have
developed a fondness for geometrical arguments working with him.
For the terrors of errors, I have employed a meticulous posse of
proofreaders: Håkon Kolderup, Jonas Kylling, Simen Lønsethagen and
Fredrik Meyer. Each of them deserve the deepest of thanks. Together they
have combated misprints and made the presentation more perspicuous.
Fredrik is also deserving of special mention and gratitude for serving as a
Macaulay2 reference manual.
To my partners in crime, all who have shared the study hall B601 with me
these past nine semesters, I thank you for distracting me.
Martin Helsø
Oslo, May 2016
Contents
Abstract i
Acknowledgements iii
Contents iv
List of Figures vi
List of Tables vii

1 Introduction 1
1.1 Basic Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2 Outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2 Veronese Varieties 7
2.1 Quadratic Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.2 Veronese Embedding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.3 The Degree of a Veronese Variety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.4 Projection of the Veronese Surface to P3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3
3 Space of Quadrics in P 17
3.1 Moduli Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.2 Web of Quadrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.3 Some Unusual Symmetroids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4 Symmetroids with a Double Conic 25
4.1 Mimicking the Pillow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4.2 Menagerie of Projected Del Pezzo Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.3 Quadrics Through Four General Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.4 Conjectures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
5 Symmetroids with a Double Line 45
5.1 Quadrics Through Four Coplanar Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
5.2 Linear System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
5.3 Double Line Not Contained in the Rank 2 Locus . . . . . . . . 56
5.4 Dimensions of Families of Rational Symmetroids . . . . . . . . 57
6 Degenerated Symmetroids 61
Contents
6.1 Symmetroids with No Isolated Singularities . . . . . . . . . .. 61

6.2 Quartic Symmetroids with a Triple Point . . . . . . . . . . .. 63
6.3 Final Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 64
A Gallery of Symmetroids 67
A.1 Symmetroids Singular along a Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 67
A.2 Symmetroids Singular along a Conic . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 70
A.3 Symmetroid Singular along a Reducible Cubic . . . . . . . . .. 72
B Code and Computations 73
B.1 Computations for Example 3.3.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 73
B.7 Computations for Section 4.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 83
C Rational Double Points 89
C.1 ADE Singularities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 89
Bibliography 93
Glossary of Symbols 97
Index 98
v
List of Figures
2.1 Projection of the Veronese surface to the Steiner surface . . . . . . 13

2.2 Pairwise intersection of conics and lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.3 The Steiner surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.4 Pencils of conics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2.5 Projected Veronese surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.1 The pillow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

3.2 Toeplitz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.1 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with two double lines and four
nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.2 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double conic and four
nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.3 Ramification loci for a symmetroid with two double lines and three
nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4.4 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with two double lines and two
nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4.5 Intersection of components in rank 2 locus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4.6 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double conic and three
nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.7 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double conic and two
nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4.8 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with two double lines and one
node . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
5.1 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line and six nodes 48
5.2 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line and seven
nodes, projected from a rank-2-point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
5.3 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line and seven
nodes, projected from a rank-3-node . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
5.4 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line and five nodes 49
5.5 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line, five rank-
2-nodes and one rank-3-node, projected from a rank-2-node . . . . 50
5.6 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line, five rank-
2-nodes and one rank-3-node, projected from the rank-3-node . . . 50
5.7 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line and four nodes 51
5.8 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line, three nodes
and no rank-1-point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
5.9 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line, three nodes
and a rank-1-point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
5.10 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line and two nodes 53
5.11 Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line that is not
contained in the rank 2 locus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
A.1 Rational quartic symmetroids singular along a line, with seven to

eight additional nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
A.2 Rational quartic symmetroids singular along a line, with six addi-
tional nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
A.3 Rational quartic symmetroids singular along a line, with four to five
additional nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
A.4 Rational quartic symmetroids singular along a line, with zero to
three additional nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
A.5 Rational quartic symmetroids singular along two intersecting lines 70
A.6 Rational quartic symmetroids singular along a smooth conic section 71
A.7 Quartic symmetroid singular along a smooth conic section and a line 72
All figures are drawn by the author using TikZ or surf.
List of Tables
4.1 Possible singularities on quartic del Pezzo surfaces . . . . . . . . . 27

4.2 Differences resulting from dividing the ramification locus into dif-
ferent cubics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.3 Differences in rank 2 loci . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
C.1 ADE classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

C.2 Fundamental cycles for ADE curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
“Be prepared to immediately commit to the
first thing you see that’s better than what
you saw in that first 37%”
Brian Christian
P icture yourself in the process of buying a house. You might find yourself
pondering whether to make an offer on a house you like now or hold off in
case a better option surface later. Similar dilemmas arise when seeking a job;
deciding whether to accept a current job offer or continue searching for more
opportunities can be equally perplexing.
In the realm of mathematics, the challenge of determining the optimal moment to
take a specific action, with the goal of maximizing rewards or minimizing
costs, is encapsulated by the concept of "Optimal Stopping" or early stopping.
Simply put, when faced with a multitude of choices and the need to select the
best one, mathematics can guide us in identifying the ideal time to either
proceed or quit. Experts suggest that to enhance your chances of achieving the
best outcomes, it's advisable to evaluate the initial 37% of options.
Summary of Up and Atom video:
Consider the scenario of house hunting in Mumbai, a city known as the "City of
Dreams." The decision-making process involves the risk of either acting too
quickly and potentially missing out on a better option or waiting too long and
losing the best opportunity. Striking the right balance is crucial, and
researchers have coined the term "Look-Then-Leap Rule," advocating for
assessing the first 37% of options before making a decision.
The derivation of this percentage stems from understanding the dynamics of
decision-making as the number of choices increases. The concept is scalable;
whether you're evaluating 10 houses or 10,000 houses, following the Look-
Then-Leap Rule ensures a 37% chance of landing the best option. This
mathematical principle, known as "Optimal Stopping," finds application in
various scenarios, including job searches, gambling, and, surprisingly, matters
of the heart.
Now, let's delve into the realm of emotions, love—no, I'm not upset; my writing
applying it to myself for my love life (future) 💔. Returning to the topic, to

might take a U-turn here, akin to encountering an answer of 0/0, when
avoid the mathematical ambiguity, let's consider another example (without the
0
answer)—Michael Trick, a young undergraduate student and now a
0
professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Embracing the Look-and-Leap rule,
the 37% principle, in matters of the heart, he faced the uncertainty of not
knowing how many people he'd need to date.
The flexibility of the 37% rule extends beyond numbers; it applies to time as well.
Michael decided to navigate the realm of romance from age 18 to 40,
acknowledging the unpredictability of his future. Planning to quit or take a
leap at the age of 26.1, he found himself coincidentally at that precise age.
Firmly believing in the enchantment of mathematical concepts, he resolved to
was heartbreak 💔, a stark contrast to house-hunting where rejection by a house

propose to a girl better than any he had encountered. However, the outcome
is not a concern.
In love, rejection is a possibility 💔, a reality that mathematicians have considered. If

faced with a 50/50 chance of rejection (hopefully not), one could follow a
strategic approach. Consider proposing or taking a leap after a quarter (1/4) of
your search. If rejected, persist in proposing until acceptance, boosting your
chances of finding the best partner to 25%. Notably, this approach diverges
from the house dilemma, as it allows room for revisiting and adjusting one's
strategy. Take, for instance, the story of the astronomer who, after his wife's
passing, dated 11 women and eventually married the fifth.
.
CHAPTER 2
Probability
The Italian geometers have erected, on somewhat shaky

foundations, a stupendous edifice: The theory of algebraic
surfaces. It is the main object of modern algebraic geometry to
strengthen, preserve, and further embellish this edifice.
Oscar Zariski
H E R E we review Veronese varieties, because the image V of a quadratic

Veronese map is a quintessential example of a determinantal variety. Its secant
variety Sec(V ) is a symmetroid, with V being the rank 1 locus of Sec(V ). We
showcase some classical arguments involved in the study of these
kinds of varieties.
2.1 Quadratic Forms

Before we plunge into the examination of the Veronese embedding, we allow
ourselves a detailed digression. The relationship between quadratic forms
and the rank of the corresponding matrix is vital throughout the thesis.
2
Proposition 2.1.1. Let C be the conic in CP given by
T 2 2 2
x Ax = ax + 2bxy + cy + 2dxz + 2eyz + f z = 0,
where
a b d
A := d e f.
b c e
Then we have that

(i) rank A = 1 if and only if C is a double line,
(ii) rank A = 2 if and only if C consists of two distinct lines,
(iii) rank A = 3 if and only if C is smooth.
2. Veronese Varieties
Proof. Since C is a conic, A cannot be the zero matrix.

(i) Assume that C is a double line. Then its equation is on the form
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
(ax + by + cz) = a x + 2abxy + b y + 2acxz + 2bcyz + c z = 0.
Thus
a2 ab ac
2
A= ab b bc ,
ac bc c2
which has rank 1.
Conversely, if rank A = 1, then in particular the (2 × 2)-minors
d e
a b
= ac − b2 a = af − d2 c = cf − e2
b c d f e f
√ √ √ √
vanish. Hence b = ac, d = af and e = cf. Substituting a˜ := a,
√ ˜ √
c˜ := c and f := f, the equation defining C reduces to
2 2 2 2 ˜ ˜ ˜2 2 ˜ 2
a˜ x + 2ãcxy˜ + c˜ y + 2ãf xy + 2˜cf yz + f z = ax˜ + cy˜ + f z = 0.
In conclusion, C is a double line.
(iii) Let
2 2 2
f(x, y, z) := ax + 2bxy + cy + 2dxz + 2eyz + f z ,
then C is nonsingular if and only if the system of equations of partial
derivatives,
∂f
∂x = 2ax + 2by + 2dz = 0,
∂f
∂y = 2bx + 2cy + 2ez = 0,
∂f
∂z = 2dx + 2ey + 2f z = 0,
has no nontrivial solution. This is equivalent to the determinant
2a 2b 2d
2b 2c 2e = det(2A) = 0.
2d 2e 2f 6
This occurs precisely when A has full rank.

The case (ii) now follows because we have exhausted the list of possible ranks
and conic sections.
Remark 2.1.2. Proposition 2.1.1 extends easily to an (n × n)-matrix A. The
quadratic form is a square if and only if rank A = 1, and xTAx is singular if and
only if A is singular. Moreover, since the partial derivatives of xTAx vanish
precisely when Ax = 0, the Rank-Nullity theorem implies that the projective
dimension of the singular locus of the quadratic form is n − rank A − 1. ♣
8
2.2. Veronese Embedding
2.2 Veronese Embedding

2 5
Recall that the Veronese surface means the image of the map ν2 : P → P
given by
2 2 2
[x0 : x1 : x2 ] 7→x0 : x0x1 : x0x2 : x1 : x1x2 : x2 .
5
If we let P have coordinates [y00 : y01 : y02 : y11 : y12 : y22], we see that the
polynomials
2
y y − y y 2
q1 := y00y11 − y01 q2 := 00 12 01 02 q3 := y00y22 − y02
y y y y y y − y y 2
q4 := 01 12 − 02 11 q5 := 01 22 02 12 q6 := y11y22 − y12
disappear on the Veronese surface. In fact, the Veronese surface is
precisely the zero locus of the qi [Har77, I, Exercise 2.12]. This is equal to
the rank 1 locus of the symmetric matrix
y y y
00 01 02
M := y
01
y
11 y12 .
y y y
02 12 22
In light of Proposition 2.1.1 this can be interpreted as the set of points

5
[y00 : . . . : y22] ∈ P
such that the quadratic form associated to M defines a double line.

We note two properties about the Veronese surface:
5
Observation 2.2.1. Let V ⊆ P be the Veronese surface. Then
5
(i) if C is a curve on V , then there exists a hypersurface H ⊂ P such that
H ∩ V = C [Har77, I, Exercise 2.13],
(ii) there are no lines on V [Har92, Lecture 19].
n N
More generally, a Veronese map of degree d is a morphism νd : P → P ,
n+d
where N = − 1, defined by sending a point [a0 : . . . : an] to d
[M0(a0, . . . , an) : . . . : MN (a0, . . . , an)].

The Mi are the different monomials of degree d in x0, . . . , x n. The map νd is an
isomorphism onto its image, which is called a Veronese variety. The image of a
variety X ⊆ Pn under νd is a subvariety of PN [Har92, Lecture 2]. The image of the
1 d
special case νd : P → P is called a rational, normal curve.
Let PN have coordinates [y0 : . . . : yN ]. Then νd(Pn) equals the
intersection of the quadratic hypersurfaces V (yi yj − ykyl) for multi-indices (i,
j, k, l) such that MiMj = MkMl. In the case of the quadratic Veronese map,
ν2 :P n
→ P1 2
(n+1)(n+2)−1
,
the image can be expressed as the zero locus of the (2×2)-minors of a
symmetric (n + 1) × (n + 1)-matrix.
Any projective variety is isomorphic to an intersection of a Veronese
variety with a linear space [Har92, Exercise 2.9].
9
2.3 The Degree of a Veronese Variety

Before we can compute the degree of a Veronese variety, we need to
recollect some well-known results.
n
Definition 2.3.1. Let X ⊆ P be an irreducible, k-dimensional variety. If
Ω is a general (n − k)-plane, then the degree deg(X) of X, is the number of
points of intersection of Ω and X. If X is reducible and X = Si Xi is its
decomposition into irreducible components, then the definition is extended
P
linearly by deg(X) := i deg(Xi). n ♠
Definition 2.3.2. Let X, Y ⊆ P be subvarieties. We say that X and Y
intersect transversally at an point P ∈ X ∩ Y , if they are smooth at P and their
tangent spaces span TP P . Let Zi be the irreducible components of X ∩ Y .
Then X and Y intersect generically transversally if they for each i intersect
transversally at a general point Pi ∈ Zi. ♠
If dim(X) + dim(Y ) = n, then saying that X and Y intersect generically
transversally is the same as saying that they intersect transversally.
n
Theorem 2.3.3 (Bézout, [Har92, Theorem 18.3]). Let X, Y ⊆ P be subvari-
eties of pure dimensions k and l with k + l ≥ n, and suppose that they
intersect generically transversally. Then
deg(X ∩ Y ) = deg(X) · deg(Y ).
In particular, if k + l = n, then X ∩ Y consists of deg(X) · deg(Y ) points.

Theorem 2.3.4 (Bertini, [Har92, Theorem 17.16]). Let X be a quasi-projective
n n
variety, f : X → P a regular map, H ⊂ P a general hyperplane and put
−1
Y := f (H). Then Ysing = Xsing ∩ Y .
One can use Bertini’s theorem to show that k general hypersurfaces in
Pn, for k < n, intersect transversally in a smooth, (n − k)-dimensional variety
X ⊂ Pn [Har92, Exercise 17.17].
Now we can turn to the task of computing the degree. Let
2 2 2
P := [a00 : a01 : a02 : a11 : a12 : a22] := [a 0 : a0a1 : a0a2 : a 1 : a1a2 : a 2]
be the point on the Veronese surface V ⊂ P5 coming from P 0 := [a0 : a1 : a2]

via the embedding ν2 : P2 → P5. Saying that a hyperplane H ⊂ P5 given by
b y b y b y b y b y b y
00 00 + 01 01 + 02 02 + 11 11 + 12 12 + 22 22 = 0
intersects V in P , amounts to saying that a certain curve vanish at P 0. Indeed,
X
ba ij ij =0
if and only if
X
b xx
ij i j (a0, a1, a2) = 0.
In other words, there is a bijection between hyperplane sections of the

Veronese surface and conic sections in P2.
10
3
2.4. Projection of the Veronese Surface to P
In precisely the same manner, for a Veronese map νd : Pn → PN of

degree d, the inverse image νd−1(H) of a general hyperplane H ⊂ PN is a
general hypersurface of degree d in Pn. The degree of the Veronese variety
νd(Pn) is equal to the number of intersection points of νd(Pn) and n general
−
hyperplanes Hi ⊂ PN . Let Yi := νd 1(Hi) ⊂ Pn be the inverse images. Bézout’s
theorem gives that
n
deg(Y1 ∩ . . . ∩ Yn) = deg(Y1) · · · deg(Yn) = d .
Bertini’s theorem implies that the intersection of the Yi has dimension 0. An

(n − 0)-plane in Pn is just Pn itself, so there are dn points in
n
(Y1 ∩ . . . ∩ Yn) ∩ P = Y1 ∩ . . . ∩ Yn.
Subsequently, νd(Pn) has degree dn since νd is injective. A similar argument
shows that if Y ⊆ Pn is a variety of dimension k and degree e, then νd(Y ) ⊂
PN has degree dke.
In particular, ν2(P2) ⊂ P5 has degree 4. Its intersection with a general
hyperplane is a rational, normal curve in P4. This is the only incidence where
the intersection of a Veronese variety with a general hyperplane is another
Veronese variety [Har92, Exercise 18.14].
2.4 Projection of the Veronese Surface to P3

Projection from P5 to P3 can be done in two steps: First projecting from a
point p1 ∈ P5 to P4, and then projecting further from another point p2 ∈ P4 to
3 5 3
P . The composition P → P is said to be projection from the line L between
p1 and p2. We shall consider the image of the Veronese surface when L is in
two different positions.
General Projection
The general projection of the Veronese surface V to P3 is called a Steiner
surface S. In this section we will show that a Steiner surface has nodes
along three lines which meet in a triple point. First, we need to make a few
notes about the secant variety Sec(V ) of V, starting with a simple definition.
n
Definition 2.4.1. The span Φ of two subsets , Φ ⊆ P is defined as the
smallest linear subspace of Pn containing ∪ Φ. If := P(W1) and Φ := P(W2)
are projectivisations of subspaces W1, W2 ⊆ kn+1, then Φ = P(W1 + W2). ♠
For linear subspaces Λ1, Λ2 ⊆ Pn, we have the inequality
dim Λ1Λ2 ≤ dim(Λ1) + dim(Λ2) + 1.
Equality holds if and only if Λ1 and Λ2 are disjoint. In general,
dim Λ1Λ2 ≤ dim(Λ1) + dim(Λ2) − dim(Λ1 ∩ Λ2),

with the convention that dim(?) = −1 [Har92, Example 1.1].
Recall that for an irreducible variety X ⊆ Pn, the secant line map is a
rational map s: X × X 99K G(1, n), where the Grassmannian G(1, n) is the
11
lines in Pn. The secant line map is defined on the complement (X × X) \ Δ of

the diagonal Δ by sending a pair of points (p, q) to the line pq connecting
them. A point l ∈ im s is called a secant line of X. The secant variety of X,
[
Sec(X) := l ⊆ Pn,
l∈im s
is the union of all secant lines of X.

In general, it is hard to compute secant varieties, but for determinantal
varieties we have the following result:
Proposition 2.4.2 ([Har92, Exercise 11.29]). Let M be the projective space of
(m × n)-matrices and let Mk ⊆ M be the subvariety of matrices of rank at
most k. Assume that 2k < min{m, n}. Then the secant variety Sec(Mk) is
equal to the subvariety M2k ⊆ M of matrices of rank at most 2k.
We know that the Veronese surface V is the rank 1 locus of
y y y
00 01 02
M= y01 y11 y12 .

y y y
02 12 22
However, M only parametrises the symmetric (3 × 3)-matrices, so Proposi-

tion 2.4.2 is not directly applicable. Nevertheless, we shall see that the
conclusion that Sec(V ) is the rank 2 locus of M still holds true.
Any secant line of V can be written as ν2(p)ν2(q) for some points p, q ∈ P2.
The line pq is mapped to a conic C ⊂ V ⊂ P5 under ν2. Then C spans a plane
Π. A general line in Π intersects C in two points, hence is a secant line to C
and thus to V . It follows that Sec(V ) is the union of the planes intersecting V
in a conic.
Explicitly, the planes are parametrised by the column space or
equivalently the row space of M. For each [a : b : c] ∈ P2, the equation
a y01 +b y11 +c y12 =
y y y
0
00 01 02 0
y y y
02 12 22 0
defines a plane which intersects V in the conic ν2(l), where l ⊂ P2 is the line
given by ax0 + bx1 + cx2 = 0. This expresses that the columns are linearly
dependent, so rank(M) is at most 2. Thus the equation for Sec(V ) is det(M) =
0. Note that V is the singular locus of Sec(V ).
As Sec(V ) is a hypersurface in P5, it has dimension 4. A k-dimensional
n
variety X ⊆ P is said to have a deficient secant variety if
dim(Sec(X)) < min{2k + 1, n}.
The Veronese surface is the only smooth surface with a deficient secant
variety [Har92, Lecture 11].
We are now ready to study what happens when V is projected from a
general line L to P3. Since
Sec(V ) = V(det M)
12
3
has degree 3, it will meet L in three distinct points P1, P2 and P3. Each Pi
defines a plane Πi ⊂ Sec(V ) intersecting V in a conic Ci. The projection πL :
5 3 3
P → P maps Πi to a line Li ⊂ P and surjects Ci two-to-one onto Li. This
explains the promised double points along three lines. The situation is
displayed in Figure 2.1.
L
C3 P3
L3
S
C2 P2
π
Sec(V ) L
L1 L2
C1 P1
Figure 2.1: Under the projection from a general line L in P5 to P3, three conics on
the Veronese surface V are mapped two-to-one onto lines in a Steiner surface S.
The conics Ci can be thought of as ν2(li) for lines li ⊂ P2. Since the lines li
meet pairwise, so must the Ci and therefore also the Li. Hence there are two
possible configurations, as shown in Figure 2.2 on the next page. Either all
the Li lie in a plane or they form three axes. Suppose for contradiction that
the Li lie in a plane. Then this L together with this plane spans a P4 ⊂ P5. The
intersection of this P4 with V will contain C1 + C2 + C3, which has degree 6.
But deg P4 ∩ V = 4. This is impossible, so the lines Li meet in a single point
with multiplicity 3.
Choose coordinates [z0 : z1 : z2 : z3] for P3 such that the singular lines of
the Steiner surface S are z1 = z2 = 0, z1 = z3 = 0 and z2 = z3 = 0. Then we
may assume by [Dol12, Section 2.1.1] that the equation for S is
2 2 2 2 2 2
z0z1z2z3 + z1 z2 + z1 z3 + z2 z3 = 0, (2.1)
after scaling the coordinates. We will henceforth refer to all general
projections of the Veronese surface to P3 as the Steiner surface. The affine
piece z0 = 1 is plotted in Figure 2.3 on the following page. Moreover, an
2
explicit birational map P 99K S can be given by sending [x0 : x1 : x2] to
2 2 2 2
(−x0 + x1 + x2) : (x0 − x1 + x2) : (x0 + x1 − x2) : (x0 + x1 + x2) .
This map is surjective [Dol12, Section 2.1.1].

Remark 2.4.3. In Section 6.1, we find a symmetric matrix having (2.1) as its
determinant, showing that the Steiner surface is a symmetroid. ♣
13
C1
π
L or
C2 C3
Figure 2.2: Pairwise intersection of conics and lines.
Figure 2.3: The Steiner surface from different angles.
Duality and Special Projection

Later, when hunting for rational symmetroids, we shall be interested in quartics
that are singular along a curve. As an exercise, we find a line L ⊂ P5 such that
the dual of the Veronese surface V intersected with the orthogonal subspace L⊥
of L, is singular along a curve. We begin by clarifying the terminology.
∨
Definition 2.4.4. The dual projective space (Pn) consists of all hyperplanes
in n. That is, the point [a :...:a] ( n)∨ corresponds to the hyperplane
P n ∈ P
0
n
V(a0x0 + · · · + anxn) ⊂ P . ♠
2.4.5. Let X be an irreducible, projective variety. A hyper-
n
⊂
Definition n P
plane H ⊂ P is said to be tangent to X if H contains an embedded tangent
space TP X at some smooth point P ∈ X. ♠
Definition 2.4.6. For an irreducible, projective variety X ⊂ Pn, we define the
dual variety X∗ ⊂ (Pn)∨ to be the closure of the set of all tangent hyperplanes
of X. ♠
n
Theorem 2.4.7 (Reflexivity Theorem, [Tev03, Theorem 1.7]). Let X ⊆ P be
an irreducible, projective variety. Then
∗∗
(i) X = X.
∗
(ii) More precisely, if x ∈ X and H ∈ X are smooth points, then H is
n ∨
tangent to X at x if and only if x, regarded as a hyperplane in (P ) , is
∗
tangent to X at H.
14
3
n
Definition 2.4.8. For a projective subspace X ⊂ P , let the orthogonal sub-
space X⊥ ⊂ (Pn)∨ be the set of hyperplanes that contain X. ♠ To
motivate our undertaking, consider a line L ⊂ P5. Then L⊥ ⊂ (P5)∨ is a P3.
Denote the projection πL(V ) of V from L by V . In the irreducible
case, projecting from L and then taking the dual is the same as taking the
∗
dual first and then intersecting with L⊥, that is V = V ∗∩ L⊥ . Then we could
use Theorem 2.4.7 to deduce V . We will however shortly see that V ∗∩ L⊥ is
reducible in our case.
Let us now turn to the task of finding the dual of the Veronese surface. A
hyperplane is tangent to V if and only if its intersection with V is singular.
From Section 2.3, we know that a hyperplane section of V is the image ν2(C)
of a conic C ⊂ P2. Thus the only singular hyperplane sections are those that
break up into pairs of conics, meaning they are the image of either a line-pair
or double line in P2. Thus Proposition 2.1.1 implies that V ∗ is parametrised
by the rank 2 locus of
y y y
00 01 02
y01 y11 y12 .
y y y
02 12 22
This is precisely the same description as the one we gave for Sec(V ). Note
that Theorem 2.4.7 implies that Sec(V )∗ =∼ V .
∗ ∗
For simpler notation, let V1 := V , Y1 := Sec(V 1), Y2 := V1 and V2 := Y1 ,
so that Y2 = Sec(V 2). Strict notational propriety dictates that V should be
denoted V1, but we shall keep the original symbol in this case.
⊥ ⊥
Since Sing Y2 = V2, we have that Sing Y2 ∩ L = V2 ∩ L . Thus finding a
line L ⊂ P5 such that Y2 ∩ L⊥ is singular along a curve, amounts to finding a
P3 ⊂ P5 such that P3 ∩ V2 contains a curve.
What are the possible curves in the intersection of the Veronese surface and
a P3? As noted above, the intersection of V2 and a hyperplane is the image ν2(C)
of a conic C ⊂ P2. Because P3 ⊂ P5 is contained in a hyperplane, we deduce
3 2 3
that V2 ∩ P = ν2(X) for some subset X ⊆ C of a conic C ⊂ P . A P in P5 is
contained in a pencil of hypersurfaces, so X must be the base locus of a pencil of
conics. Generically, X will consist of 4 points, but specially it can be a line and a
point. See Figure 2.4 on the next page. In the latter case, ν2(X) consists of a
conic C and a point P , where P is either an embedded component in C or P is
not in the plane spanned by C, since ν2(X) span P3.
Consequently, if L ⊂ P5 is such that V1∗ ∩ L⊥ is singular along a curve,
then V2 ∩ L⊥ contains a conic C. The conic C spans a plane Π. Because Π ⊂
L⊥, we have that L ⊂ Π⊥. In addition, Π is a plane intersecting V2 in a conic;
in Section 2.4 we demonstrated that Π ⊂ Sec(V 2) = Y2 = V1∗. Thus points in
Π correspond to hyperplanes that are tangent to V1. It follows that Π⊥ is the
tangent plane TqV1 at some point q ∈ V1. In summary, if Y2 ∩ L⊥ is singular
along a curve, then L lies in a tangent plane of V1.
Suppose that L lies in the tangent plane TqV1 at some point q ∈ V1. There is
a pencil of lines in TqV1 passing through q. This corresponds to conic sections in
5
V1 meeting in q via the embedding ν2 : TqV1 → P . Any such line l ⊂ Tq V1 will
intersect L in a point q.0 The projection πL factors through the projection from q.0
It follows that the conic ν2(l) is projected two-to-one onto a line. Consequently, πL
: V1 → V is a double cover and V is a union of concurrent lines; a cone.
15
∗ ⊥ ⊥
We now give an account of V1 ∩L . First, note that Y2 ∩ L = Sec(V2)
∩P3 is a cubic. If Sing Y2 ∩ L⊥ consists of the conic C and the point P , then
the plane Π spanned by C is contained in both Sec(V2) and P3. Hence Y2 ∩
L⊥ is reducible, consisting of a plane and some quadric component. We
deduce that the quadric is a cone with base C and apex P . There is a
depiction in Figure 2.5.
l l
(a) Pencil of ellipses. (b) Pencil of line-pairs (c) Pencil of line-pairs

where a line l and a point where a line l and a point
not on l is fixed. on l is fixed.
Figure 2.4: The base locus of a pencil of conics consists generically (a) of 4
points, but consist in special cases (b, c) of a line and a point.
(a) V (b) V ∗∩ L⊥
Figure 2.5: The projection of the Veronese surface V to P3 from a line lying
in a tangent plane of V (a) and the dual of V intersected with the orthogonal
subspace of the line (b).
16
CHAPTER 3
3
Space of Quadrics in P
I am a great fan of science, but I

cannot do a quadratic equation.
Terry Pratchett
E point x on a symmetroid V(det(M)) is associated with a symmetric matrix M(x).

V E RY
To M(x) we associate the quadratic form aTM(x)a . In order to fully understand
symmetroids, we must explore the quadrics. We begin in full generality, describing the
moduli space of quadrics in P3, before
we specialise to pencils and webs of quadrics.
3.1 Moduli Space

Consider P9 as the space of quadratic surfaces in P3. We stratify this space
according to the ranks of the symmetric matrices representing the quadratic
forms. More precisely, parametrise P9 with the matrix
y y y y
00 01 02 03
M := y01 y11 y12 y13
y02 y12 y22 y23
y y y y
03 13 23 33
and let Qi denote the set of points where M has rank at most i.
Then Q4 = P9 and Q3 is the discriminant quartic hypersurface det(M) = 0.
The rank 2 locus Q2 has dimension 6 and degree 10. Finally, Q1 equals the
image of the Veronese map ν2 : P3 → P9, so it is a threefold of degree 8.
The same argument as in Section 2.4 shows that Sec(Q1) is the union of
the planes intersecting Q1 in a conic. Furthermore, if the conic is ν2(l), for a
line l ⊂ P3 with ideal
ha0x0 + a1x1 + a2x2 + a3x3, b0x0 + b1x1 + b2x2 + b3x3i,
then the plane Π ⊂ Sec(Q1) intersecting Q1 in ν2(l) is given by

a0m0 + a1m1 + a2m2 + a3m3 = 0,
(3.1)
b0m0 + b1m1 + b2m2 + b3m3 = 0,
3
3. Space of Quadrics in P
where mi are the columns of M. This shows that M has nullity at least 2 in Π,
so the rank is at most 2. Ergo Sec(Q1) = Q2 and thus it is deficient.
Since any point in (P3 × P3) \ Δ yields one of these planes, we have de-
scribed Q2 as a 6-dimensional family of planes. However, we can also give it
a characterisation as a 3-dimensional family of 3-spaces. We begin with
some terminology.
n
Definition 3.1.1. Let X ⊂ P be a smooth variety. Then its tangential variety
Tan(X) is defined as the closure of the union of all embedded tangent spaces
TP X for P ∈ X. ♠
Notation 3.1.2. If f is the polynomial of a quadric in P3, let [f] denote its
corresponding point. ♦
Remark 3.1.3. Unfortunately, Notation 3.1.2 is vague because the same

symbol is used for two different, albeit similar, concepts. In this chapter, [f]
means the corresponding point in P9 , with the exception of Lemma 3.2.2. In
Lemma 3.2.2 and Chapter 4, [Q] is the point with the property that aTM([Q])a
= Q. ♣ Take a point l2 ∈ Q1, where l is a linear form. We have from [Dol12,
Exercise 1.18] that the embedded tangent space T[l2]Q1 is the set
0 0
T[l2]Q1 = {l · l | l is a linear form}. (3.2)
Furthermore, it is a consequence of the Fulton–Hansen connectedness
theorem that Sec(X) is deficient if and only if Tan(X ) = Sec(X) for a variety X
[FH79, Corollary 4]. Together, this proves the claim that Q2 is a 3-
dimensional family of 3-spaces.
The purpose of cogitating P9 is to give us another tool for analysing
quartic symmetroids. Given a quartic symmetroid S ⊂ P3 with equation
l l
l01 11 12 l13
l l l l
= 0,
00 01 02 03
l l l l
02 13 22 23
l l l
l03 13 23 33
where the lij are linear forms in the variables x0, x1, x2 and x3, then S can be
viewed as the intersection of Q3 and the 3-space
3
H := [l00(x0, x1, x2, x3) : . . . : l33(x0, x1, x2, x3)] [x0 : x1 : x2 : x3] ∈ P .
Conversely, any P3 ⊂ P9 gives rise to a quartic symmetroid: It arises as the
discriminant hypersurface of the web of quadrics. The symmetroid defined by

the determinant of a matrix which parametrises a space of quadrics, is often
called the discriminant hypersurface. The term originates from the following:
2 2 T
The quadratic form ax 0 + bx0x1 + cx 1 can be written as x Ax, where
" #
b
.
1
A := a 2
1
2b c
Then det(A) is the discriminant of the dehomogenised polynomial ax20 + bx0
+ c, up to multiplication with −4.
18
3.2. Web of Quadrics
Remark 3.1.4. If the symmetroid S is a cone, then H only defines a net of

quadrics. It degenerates further if S is defined by a polynomial in only one or
two variables. ♣ Bézout’s theorem implies that
a P3 will generically meet Q2 in 10 points and miss Q1. If the 3-space is
chosen to be fully contained in Q3 for instance a tangent space T[l2]Q1
then the polynomial defining the symmetroid will be the zero polynomial,
since the matrix is rank deficient at all points. From the description (3.2) of
T[l2]Q1, it is clear that quadrics in this space have the plane V(l) in common.
Observe that the equations (3.1) show that quadrics in a secant plane Π are
pairs of planes with a fixed line of intersection, since the
matrices in Π have the same null space.
3.2 Web of Quadrics

Let S ⊂ P3 be a quartic symmetroid given by the symmetric matrix M := M(x)
in the variables x0, x1, x2 and x3. Denote the web of quadrics aTMa by W . The
union of all the singularities of the quadrics in W form an algebraic set, called
1
the variety of singular loci of W . It is easy to describe: Recall from Remark
2.1.2 that the singular locus of the quadratic form aTMa is the solutions of Ma
= 0. Let A := A(a) be the matrix in the variables a0, a1, a2 and a3 such that M a
= Ax. Then Ma = 0 if and only if Ax = 0, so the variety of singular loci is given
by det(A) = 0.
Let S be a generic quartic symmetroid and S0 the associated variety of
singular loci. Then S and S0 are birationally equivalent. Indeed, it follows
from Remark 2.1.2 that the 10 rank-2-points on S are replaced by lines in S0;
one can obtain S0 by blowing up S in these points.
The connection between the symmetroid and its variety of singular loci
might not be as clear in general, but we see some patterns in Chapter 4.
There we also compute the quadrics Q ∈ W that have singularities in the
base locus of W , so we make a general note about this first.
Notation 3.2.1. The base locus of a linear system of divisors d is denoted
Bl(d). ♦
n T
Lemma 3.2.2. Let W be the linear space of quadrics in P given by y My for
1
some symmetric (n+1)×(n+1)-matrix M of linear forms in k ≤ 2 (n+1)(n+2)
variables. Let D be the discriminant hypersurface V(det(M)). If [QP ] ∈ W is a
point such that the quadric QP is singular at P ∈ Bl(W ), then [QP ] ∈ Sing D.
The proof is due to Kristian Ranestad.
Proof. We claim that the tangent space to D in W at a point [ QP ], such that

QP is singular at a point P ∈ Pn not necessarily in the base locus is the
hyperplane of quadrics that vanish at P .
In order to see this, choose coordinates such that [QP ] := [1 : 0 : . . . : 0]
and such that the hyperplane of quadrics vanishing at P passes through the
points [0 : 1 : 0 : . . . : 0], . . . , [0 : . . . : 0 : 1 : 0]. Thus if
M(x) := M0x0 + · · · + Mkxk,

1
Occasionally singular loci is replaced by singularities or singular points.
19
3
T T
then QP = y M0y and y Miy vanish at P for i = 1, . . . , k − 1. In addition, the
hyperplane of quadrics vanishing at P has equation xk = 0.
Moreover, choose coordinates such that P := [1 : 0 : . . . : 0]. Then M0 is
on the form
0 0
0 m11
··· 0
· · · m 1n
. .
..
.
.. .
..
..
m nn 0 m1n
···
and the (0, 0)-entry in Mi is 0 for i = 1, . . . , k − 1. This implies that there are
n
no x 0xi terms in F (x) := det(M) for i = 0, . . . , k − 1. Hence
∂F
(P) = 0,
∂xi
for i = 0, . . . , k − 1. Thus the tangent space to D at [QP ] has equation xk = 0,
as claimed.
Finally, if P ∈ Bl(W ), then all quadrics in W vanish at P . Hence the tangent
space of D at [QP ] equals W , so D is singular at [QP ].
Remark 3.2.3. The converse to Lemma 3.2.2 does not hold. In Example 4.1.7 we
see that there are quadrics Q, for [Q] in the singular locus of the symmetroid,
that are not singular in any of the base points. ♣
3.3 Some Unusual Symmetroids

We give here an exposition of two known symmetroids that are not nodal.
Example 3.3.1 (Pillow, [Ott+14, Example 5.2]). The symmetroid defined by
the matrix
P := x0 x3 x1 00
x3 x0 0 x
1 3
x 0 x x2
0 2 3
0 x x x
is called the pillow for its shape, which is shown in Figure 3.1 on the next page. It
is irreducible and has rank 2 along the two lines L1 := V(x0, x3) and L2 := V(x1 − x2,
x3 ), as well as in the four coplanar corners of the pillow. Therefore the surface
has the unusual property that the rank 2 locus is contained in a quadric. Consult
Appendix B.1 for the Macaulay2 code for the calculations
in this section.
Consider
1
P a = x0 x3 x1 0a1 = a0 3 a 2 0 a1 x1 =: Ax.
x x x a
3 0 0 0 0 a +a 0 0 a0 x0
1 3 2 2 1 3 2
x 0 x x a a 0 a a x 2
0 2 3 3 0 2 3 3
0 x x x a 0 a a a x
So P a = 0 is equivalent to Ax = 0. In other words,

2 2 2 2
det(A) = a2(a1 + a3)(−a 0 +a 1 −a 2 + a 3) = 0
20
3.3. Some Unusual Symmetroids
describes the variety of the singularities of all the quadrics defined by the pillow.
It is the union of two planes and a smooth quadric Q.
Each of the quadrics defined by the corners of the pillow are singular along a
line on Q. The quadratic form of a point [0 : x1 : x2 : 0] ∈ L1 is 2a2 (x1a1 +x2a3).
The base locus of the pencil of quadrics parametrised by L1, is the union of
the plane V(a2) and the line V(a1, a3). Hence the singular loci of the pairs of
planes in this pencil can be summarised as all lines in V(a2) passing through
the intersection point V(a2) ∩ V(a1, a3). The situation is completely analogous
for L2, substituting V(a1 + a3) for V(a2 ) and V(a0, a2) for V(a1, a3).
We can formulate this in light of the pillow being the intersection of Q3 and
a P3 in P9. Since all the quadrics along Li share a plane, the P3 intersects two
tangent spaces T[li2]Q1 in a line each. ♥
Figure 3.1: The affine piece x3 = 1 of the pillow. The double lines lie in the
plane at infinity.
Example 3.3.2 (Toeplitz, [Ott+14, Example 5.1]). Consider the surface

defined by the symmetric Toeplitz matrix
x0 x1 x2 x3
x x x x
1 0 1 2
T := x x x x .
2 1 0 1
x x x x
3 2 1 0
The determinant det(T ) factors as a product of two irreducible quadratic

forms. Each of the components are singular in a single point, wherein the
Toeplitz symmetroid has rank 1. The components intersect in the union of the
twisted cubic curve
2 2 2 2
C := V x 0 − 2x 1 + x0x2, x0x1 − 2x1x2 + x0x3, x 0 − x0x2 − 2x 2 + 2x1x3
and the line L := V(x0 −x2, x1 −x3). See Figure 3.2 on the following page. This
intersection forms the rank 2 locus of the symmetroid, with the rank-1-points
21
3
being C ∩ L. The different rank k loci are computed by the Macaulay2 code
in Appendix B.2.
The variety of the singular loci of the quadrics aTT a of the Toeplitz
surface is given by the asymmetric matrix
a0 a1 a2 a3
a1 a0 + a2 a3 0
A := a a +a a 0 .
2 0
a 1a 3 a a
3 2 1 0
Its determinant is the product

2 2
det(A) = (a0 + a1 + a2 + a3)(a0 − a1 + a2 − a3) a 0 − a0a2 + a1a3 − a 3 .
It should be noted that quadrics from the rank-1-points are double along the two
planes Π1 := V(a0 +a1 +a2 +a3) and Π2 := V(a0 −a1 +a2 −a3), respectively.
Because L is a secant line of Q1 , we know that the quadrics along L
make up a pencil of pairs of planes with a common intersection line, Π 1 ∩ Π2.
We can also see this by computing the quadrics along L. The quadratic form
aTT a at a point [x0 : x1 : x0 : x1] ∈ L is given by
2 2 2 2
x0 a 0 +a 1 +a 2 +a 3 + 2(a0a2 + a1a3) + 2x1(a0a1 + a0a3 + a1a2 + a2a3).
This splits as
(a0 + a2)c + (a1 + a3)d (a0 + a2)d + (a1 + a3)c ,
where c and d are complex numbers satisfying
cd = x0,
2 2
c + d = x1.
We see that the base locus is indeed the line V(a0 + a2, a1 + a3) = Π1 ∩Π2. ♥
(a) (b)
Figure 3.2: The Toeplitz symmetroid (a) and its two components (b).
Pencils of Quadrics with Rank at Most 2

In both of the above examples there were pencils consisting of quadrics that
had rank at most 2, so we make a general note about such pencils.
22
3.3. Some Unusual Symmetroids
According to Remark 2.1.2, if the symmetric matrix defining a quadratic

form has rank 2, then the singular locus of the quadric is a linear space of co-
dimension 2. It follows that the quadric is the union of two distinct
hyperplanes. Moreover, the hyperplanes coincide if and only if the rank is 1.
1
Consider a pencil of quadrics al1l2 + bl3l4, where [a : b] ∈ P and the li are
linear forms, such that each quadric in the pencil has at most rank 2. Then
there are two possibilities: Either l3 is a scalar multiple of l1, or there exist
scalars c1, c2, d1 and d4 such that
l3 = c1l1 + c2l2
(3.3)
l4 = d1l1 + d2l2
are linear combinations of l1 and l2. The pencil would otherwise contain a
quadric of higher rank.
In the first case, the hyperplane V(l1) and the subspace V(l2, l4) is fixed in the
pencil. For us, this is a plane and a line, as in Example 3.3.1. In the second
case, the base locus of the pencil is the double linear subspace V(l1, l2 ). In our
case, this is a double line. Substituting (3.3), an element in the pencil becomes
2
bc1d1l1 + (a + bc1d2 + bc2d1)l1l2 +
2 √ √ 2
bc2d2l2 , which is the square c1d1l1 ± c2d2l2 for
h
± 2 pc c d d
1 2 1 2 − c1d2 − c2d1 : 1 ∈ P .
i 1
This is two distinct points unless c1 c2d1d2 = 0. Hence the second kind of
pencils has generically two rank-1-points, as in Example 3.3.2. If c1c2d1d2 =
0, then the pencil is also of the first kind.
23
CHAPTER 4
Symmetroids with a Double Conic
A good stock of examples, as large as possible, is

indispensable for a thorough understanding of any
concept, and when I want to learn something new,
I make it my first job to build one.
Paul Halmos
T HE singular locus of the pillow in Example 3.3.1 has a description similar to that of a
projected quartic del Pezzo surfaces, so we are led to pursue these surfaces. A
quartic surface in P3 with a double conic is the projection
of a del Pezzo surface. It is well-known that del Pezzo surfaces are rational.
Pictures of some of the surfaces in this chapter can be found in Appendix A.
4.1 Mimicking the Pillow

A variety X ⊂ Pn is called nondegenerate if it is not contained in a proper,
linear subspace. The classical definition of a del Pezzo surface is as follows:
Definition 4.1.1. A del Pezzo surface is a nondegenerate, irreducible surface of
degree d in Pd that is not a cone and not isomorphic to a projection of a
surface of degree d in Pd+1. ♠ It can be showed that surfaces satisfying this
definition are also del Pezzo
surfaces in the more general definition:
Definition 4.1.2. A normal, algebraic surface S is called a del Pezzo surface
if its canonical sheaf ωS is invertible, ωS−1 is ample and all its singularities are
rational double points. ♠
One of the reasons we are interested in del Pezzo surfaces is the
following result:
Theorem 4.1.3 ([Dol12, Theorem 8.1.15]). Let X be a minimal resolution of a
∼ ∼ 2
del Pezzo surface. Then, either X = F0, X = F2 or X is obtained from P
by blowing up N ≤ 8 points.
Here Fn denotes the Hirzebruch surfaces. The importance of Theorem 4.1.3
is that it shows that del Pezzo surfaces are rational. Before we can describe the
projection of a quartic del Pezzo surface, we note that they are Segre surfaces:
4. Symmetroids with a Double Conic
Theorem 4.1.4 ([Dol12, Theorem 8.6.2]). Let S be a del Pezzo surface of

4
degree 4. Then S is a complete intersection of two quadrics in P .
The converse also holds [Cas41]. Hence S is the base locus of a pencil
of quadrics.
We are now ready to look at the projections of del Pezzo surfaces. Take
the projection centre p to be a point in P 4 not on S. Let Qp be the unique
quadric in the pencil that contains p.
Theorem 4.1.5 ([Dol12, Theorem 8.6.4]). Assume that the quadric Qp is

3
nonsingular. Then the projection X of S from p is a quartic surface in P
which is singular along a nonsingular conic. Any irreducible quartic surface
3
in P which is singular along a nonsingular conic arise in this way from a
4
Segre surface S in P . The surface S is nonsingular if and only if X is
nonsingular outside the conic.
Similarly, surfaces with nodes along singular conics can be obtained by
taking the projection centre to be a singular or nonsingular point on a
singular quadric Q from the pencil. They have been classified by Segre
[Seg84]. It is also known that the second statement of the theorem
irreducible quartic surfaces that are singular along a conic are projected del
Pezzo surfaces is true even when the conic is singular. In fact, Dolgachev’s
proof of the second statement is still correct if the word nonsingular is
omitted. We repeat it here with more details.
Proof. Let F := V(f) ⊂ P3 be an irreducible quartic surface with a conic section
C ⊆ Sing F . Choose coordinates such that C spans the plane V(x0). Then
the ideal IC of C is generated by x0 and a quadratic form Q. We may assume
that Q is a linear combination L of the monomials in
2 2 2
B1 := x 1, x1x2, x1x3, x 2, x2x3, x 3 .
2
We take B2 := x 0, x0x1, x0x2, x0x3 , Q as a basis for the vector space of
quadrics containing C. This gives rise to a rational map ϕ: P3 99K P4,
2
sending a point p to x 0(p) : x0x1(p) : x0x2(p) : x0x3(p) : Q(p) .
Consider the quartic x20Q. It is the linear combination L of the monomials
2
in x 0s | s ∈ B1 = {q1q2 | q1, q2 ∈ B2 \ {x0, Q}}. Change coordinates such that
B2 are the new coordinates in P4. Then x20Q − L is a quadratic relation
in these coordinates. It is satisfied by all points in the image of ϕ. Hence
3 2
ϕ(P ) ⊆ V x 0Q − L is contained in a quadric.
Since C ⊆ Sing F , we have f ∈ IC2 , so there exists a quadric q, a linear
0 0
form L and a constant a such that f = qx20 + L x0Q + aQ2. Now f is written
as a quadratic form in B2, so it defines a quadric hypersurface in P4.
2
Let S := VP4 x 0Q − L ∩ VP4 (f). It is the complete intersection of two
quadrics, and thus a quartic del Pezzo surface. Note that ϕ maps VP3 (x0) to
the point P := [0 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 1]. The projection from P is the inverse of ϕ. It
follows that F is the image of S under the projection.
We automatically get that the pillow is a projected del Pezzo surface and
therefore rational. We want to see if other projections of del Pezzo surfaces can
be realised as symmetroids. The pillow is singular along a conic section, but
26
4.1. Mimicking the Pillow
it also has four nodes outside of the two lines. To mimic this, we require the
original del Pezzo surface in P4 to have four nodes.
Dolgachev gives a complete list of the possible singularities on quartic
del Pezzo surfaces and the configuration of the five points needed to
construct them as blow-ups of P2 [Dol12, Section 8.6.3]. For convenience,
this is repeated with a minor change1 in Table 4.1.
Singularities Position of points

A
1 P1, P2, P3 are collinear
A1+A2 P3 P2 P1 and P5 P4
A1+A3 P3 P2 P1; P5 P4 and P1, P4, P5 are collinear
P1, P2, P3 and P1, P4, P5 are collinear, or
2A1
P2 P1 and P3, P4, P5 are collinear
2A1 + A2 P3 P2 P1; P5 P4
2A1 + A3 P3 P2 P1; P5 P4;
P1, P2, P3 and P1, P4, P5 are collinear
3A1 P2 P1; P4 P3 and P1, P2, P5 are collinear
4A1 P2 P1; P4 P3; P1, P2, P5 and P3, P4, P5 are collinear
A
2 P3 P2 P1
A
3 P4 P3 P2 P1 , or
P3 P2 P1 and P1, P2, P4 are collinear
A
4 P5 P4 P3 P2 P1
D4 P4 P3 P2 P1 and P1, P2, P5 are collinear
D
5 P5 P4 P3 P2 P1 and P1, P2, P3 are collinear
Table 4.1: Possible singularities on quartic del Pezzo surfaces and how to
obtain them by blowing up P2 in five points. Here Pi Pj denotes that Pi is a
point on the exceptional divisor over Pj, and that Pi, Pj, Pk are collinear
means that the linear equivalence class l − ei − ej − ek is effective.
First we compute the ideal of a 4-nodal del Pezzo surface S. The
calculations uses the fact that S is the image of the map induced by the
linear system of cubics passing through the points Pi.
Example 4.1.6 (4-nodal quartic del Pezzo surface). Following the 4A1 entry in
Table 4.1, take P1, P3 and P5 to be distinct points in P2. For i = 1, 3, let Pi+1 be
the points in the exceptional divisor Ei over Pi , corresponding to the tangent
direction at Pi given by the line PiP5. Then the linear equivalence classes
e1 − e2, l − e 1 − e 2 − e 5,
e3 − e4, l − e3 − e4 − e5
are effective. Here ei denotes the linear equivalence class of Ei and l is the
class of the pullback of a line in P2. Moreover, the intersection with one of
1 In later tables, Dolgachev utilises that there are inequivalent linear systems giving rise to
quartic del Pezzo sufaces with two A1 singularities. However, the particular table in question lists two
equivalent systems.
27
these curves and a general hyperplane section 3l 5 e is empty, so they

P
are contracted to points. − i=1 i
In Appendix B.3 we use [1 : 0 : 0], [0 : 1 : 0] and [0 : 0 : 1] as P1, P3 and
P5, respectively, and
2 2 2 2
x 0x1, x0x 1, x0x1x2, x0x 2, x1x 2
as a basis for the linear system of cubics passing through the Pi. This linear
system induces a rational map ϕ: P2 99K P4. The image of ϕ is the del Pezzo
surface S with ideal
2
hx1x3 − x0x4, x 2 − x0x4i.
We see that it is indeed contained in a pencil of quadrics. The surface has nodes
in [1 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 0], [0 : 1 : 0 : 0 : 0], [0 : 0 : 0 : 1 : 0] and [0 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 1]. ♥
Now that we have an explicit del Pezzo surface, we can study its projections.
Example 4.1.7. We continue with the linear system from Example 4.1.6. The
two families of conic sections l − e5 and 2l − e1 − e2 − e3 − e4 both avoid the
singularities. Also, their intersection number is
(l − e5) · (2l − e1 − e2 − e3 − e4) = 2.
Hence we can take a curve from each family and they will intersect in two
points, which spans a line L. We choose the projection centre p to be a point
on L, but not on the del Pezzo surface S. If the target P3 does not contain the
two conics, then they are collapsed to double lines under the projection map
πp : P4 99K P3. With a suitable choice of p and P3, the four nodes are not
mapped onto the double lines. Also, if p is contained in the P3 spanned by
the nodes, their images are coplanar.
In Appendix B.4 we do this for a concrete example and find the quartic X
with equation
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
f(x0, x1, x2, x3) = x 0x 2 + 2x0x1x 2 + x 1x 2 − x 0x1x3 − x0x 1x3
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
+ 2x0x 2x3 + 2x1x 2x3 − x0x1x 3 − x 1x 3 + x 2x 3.
It is singular along two intersecting lines, L1 and L2, and in four coplanar points,
p1, p2, p3 and p4. In Appendix B.1 we noted that there are embedded points in the
singular locus of the pillow in addition to the intersection between the lines. The
same is true for this projected del Pezzo surface, but now we are able to explain
them as the branch locus of πp of the two conics on S.
For Algorithm 1.1.4, we consider the further projection to P2 from the
node p1 := [1 : 0 : 0 : 0]. The ramification locus is given by
2 2
x 1x 3(x1 + 2ix2 − x3)(x1 − 2ix2 − x3) = 0.
In other words, the branch curve consists of two double lines and two reduced
lines, l1 and l2. Since the projection centre is in the plane spanned by the other
nodes on X, their images are collinear in P 2. One of them, p4, is mapped to the
intersection between the two reduced lines, whereas the other two are points on
either of the double lines. The remaining intersection points in the branch locus
are the images of the embedded points. This is evinced in Figure 4.1.
28
4.1. Mimicking the Pillow
ˆ
L2
l2
pˆ3
l1
pˆ4
qˆ2
pˆ2
ˆ
0
qˆ1 qˆ1 L1
0
qˆ2
Figure 4.1: The ramification locus of the surface X in Example 4.1.7

projected from a node. It consists of two double lines and two reduced lines.
The dashed line is not part of the ramification locus. The points marked with
• are the images of the embedded points and indicates the image of a node.
There are several ways of dividing the ramification locus into two cubics.
If we let F11 in Algorithm 1.1.4 be x3(x1 + 2ix2 − x3 )(x1 − 2ix2 − x3), where
ˆ := V(x3) is the projected image of L1, we find the symmetric matrix
L
1
0 4x0 4x1 4x2

A1 := 4x0 −4x3 3
2x1 + 2x3 0 ,
2x + 2x
4x1 1 0 −
2x − x
4x 4x 2x
1 2
2 2 3
− −
whose determinant is det(A1) = 64f. Although we constructed X to imitate the
pillow, there is a seemingly remarkable difference between the two. The
rank 2 locus of the pillow is the whole singular locus, apart from the
embedded points. However, for X the rank 2 locus is only L1, the two
0
embedded points q2, q2 ∈ L2 \ L1 and two of the four nodes, p1 and p2.
If we instead define F11 := x1(x1 + 2ix2 − x3)(x1 − 2ix2 − x3), where V(x1)
is the image of L2, we get
0 4x0 + 8x3 −4x3 4x2
A2 := 4x0 + 8x3 4x1 − 8x3 3 −2x1 + 6x3 −4x2 .
2x + 6x
1
−4x − 4x −2x x2
4x 4x 2x
3 3
2 2 2 1
− −
Since A1 and A2 have different eigenvalues at the point [0 : 1 : 0 : 0], they are
not conjugate. For A2 the situation is opposite of A1: It has rank 2 along L2,
0
the two embedded points q1, q1 ∈ L1 \ L2 and the two nodes p1 and p3.
29
While the remaining node p4 is a rank-3-point for both A1 and A2, the
projection from p4 splits into cubics, so it is possible that it has rank 2 in
another representation. We suspect that there might exist a symmetric matrix
A3 with det(A3) = f, where the rank 2 locus equals the singular locus.
Unfortunately, since we have to work over Q with Macaulay2, we have been
unable to separate the complex conjugate lines l1 and l2 in the computations,
thereby not checking all the ways to divide the branch curve into cubics.
Let W1 denote the web of quadrics aTA1a. The matrix
4a1 4a2 4a3 0

M1 := 4a0 0
2a2 − 2 4a− 0 2a −4a1 + 2a2
0
0 4a 01
+ 2a 4a 0 2a3 2 2a1
a
− −
is such that M1x = A1 a. The variety of singular loci of the quadrics in W1 is
given by det(M1) = 0. It is the union of a plane Π1 and a 3-nodal cubic C1. The
base locus Bl(W1) is five points spanning P3: The singularities on C1 and two
more points in C1 ∩ Π1. One of the nodes on C1 is contained in C1 ∩ Π1 and
has multiplicity 2 in Bl(W1).
For P ∈ Bl(W1), we look at the quadrics QP which are singular at P and
consider the corresponding points [QP ] ∈ P3. From Lemma 3.2.2, we know
that [QP ] ∈ Sing X. For the double point P ∈ Bl(W1 ), the set of [QP ] is the
line L2. For the other points P ∈ Bl(W1), [QP ] are the points p3, p4, q1 and
0
q1 , respectively.
The situation is completely analogous for A2, albeit reversed. The main
aspects are condensed into Table 4.2.
The surface X is shown in Figure A.5a on page 70. ♥
F F
11 22 rank 2 [QP ] for P ∈ Bl(W)
ˆ ˆ ˆ 0 0
L 1 + l1 + l2 L 1 + 2L 2 L1, p1, p2, q2, q2 L2, p3, p4, q1, q1
ˆ ˆ ˆ 0 0
L 2 + l1 + l2 2L 1 + L 2 L2, p1, p3, q1, q1 L1, p2, p4, q2, q2
Table 4.2: Differences resulting from dividing the ramification locus into
different cubics F11 and F22 in Algorithm 1.1.4.
Remark 4.1.8. In [Ott+14, Remark 5.4], Kummer symmetroids are interpreted in

terms of quadrics, showing that the base locus consists of six distinct points. The
base locus in Example 4.1.7 is a non-reduced scheme of length six. In this
regard, X can be considered as a degenerated Kummer surface. ♣
4.2 Menagerie of Projected Del Pezzo Surfaces

We found some more rational symmetroids using the procedure in Example
4.1.7 by considering different projection centres and del Pezzo surfaces.
By a slight variation of projection centre, we can ensure that the four
isolated nodes are not coplanar:
30
4.2. Menagerie of Projected Del Pezzo Surfaces
Example 4.2.1. Take the same del Pezzo surface S as in Example 4.1.7 and
again let the projection centre p := [1 : −1 : −2 : −1 : 1] be a point on the line
L, but such that p is not contained in the P3 spanned by the four nodes.
Projecting from p onto V(x4) yields a symmetroid X, which has two inter-
secting double lines and four nodes that span P 3. Projecting further from one
of the nodes on X , the ramification locus has exactly the same description
as in Example 4.1.7, except that the nodes are not projected onto a line.
Choosing F11 in the two ways as in Example 4.1.7 we obtain the
dissimilar matrices
64x2 64x3 4x0 32x3 4x1 − 48x2 − 64x3 4x2 + 8x3
−
4x0 −−32x3 −
− 4x3 − −2x1 − 34x3 4x3
− 4x + 8x 4x 2x + 8x x
4x1 − 48x2 − 2 3
64x3 −2x1 − 34x3
3
−4x1 − 2
32x2 − 64x3
3
2x2 + 8x3 3
−
and
A(x) := A0x0 + A1x1 + A2x2 + A3x3,
where
0 256 0 0 16 16 0 4
−
A0 := 256 0
0 0 0, 0 0 0
A1 := 16
4
240 128 −4,
4 0 1
0 0 0 0 0 128 0 0
− −
128 128 64 0 256 128 0 0
A2 :=
−
128 0
−128 −64
− 0 16
0,
− 8
A3 := 128 0 − 0 32
−128− 64
32. 16
64 64 0 16 0 128 256 64
− −
In Example 4.1.7, the rank 2 locus was contained in the union of the planes
spanned by the two double lines and the four nodes, respectively. The rank 2
locus here is also contained in a quadric, but it is smooth. Otherwise the
description of the rank 2 locus and the base locus of the web of quadrics is just
as in Example 4.1.7. ♥
We now consider projected del Pezzo surfaces that are double along a
smooth conic section.
Example 4.2.2. Again, start with the del Pezzo surface S from Example
4.1.6, but let the projection centre p := [1 : 1 : 0 : −1 : 1] be a general point in
the P3 spanned by the nodes on S. That is, p is not on any line which is the
intersection between any planes spanned by two conic sections on S.
The projection of S from p is the symmetroid X in Figure A.6a on page 71,
which is double along a smooth conic section and has four coplanar nodes.
There are four embedded points on the double conic in the singular locus. The
projection to P2 from one of the nodes on X is branched along a double smooth
conic and two reduced lines. The configuration of the projected images of the
nodes and the embedded points are displayed in Figure 4.2 on the next page.
31
Figure 4.2: The ramification locus of the surface X in Example 4.2.2 projected
from a node. It consists of a double, smooth conic section and two reduced lines.
The dashed line is not part of the ramification locus. The points marked with
• are the images of the embedded points and indicates the image of a node.
The two different ways of defining F11 in Algorithm 1.1.4 give the
dissimilar matrices
8x1 + 16x2 + 8x3 4x0 4x1 8x2 2x1 + 4x2 + 2x3 2x3
− −
A1 := 4x0 − 4x1 − 8x2 2x1 + 4x2 + 2x3 −x1 − 4x2 − x3 −2x2 − x3
2x − 2x x x +x x
2x1 3 + 2x3 2 3 2 3 3
and − −
8x1 − 16x2 + 8x3 4x0 − 4x1 + 8x2 −2x1 + 4x2 − 2x3 −2x3
A2 := 4x0 − 4x1 + 8x2 3 2x1 − 4x2 + 2x3 x1 − 4x2 + x3 −2x2 + x3 .
x
2x 2x x
2 − −
− 1 2x − 1
2x + x x+x − x
+ 4x 4x + x
3
1 2x +x x +x
2
2 3
3 2
2 3
3
2 3
3
− − −
For both representations, the rank 2 locus equals the whole singular locus,
sans the embedded points.
The variety of singular loci of the web Wi of quadrics aTAia is the union
of two smooth quadrics, Qi and Qi0. The base locus Bl(Wi) consists of four
points in Qi ∩ Qi0. The points [QP ] such that the quadric QP ∈ Wi is singular
at P ∈ Bl(Wi), are the four embedded points in the double conic section on
X. ♥
Again, the four isolated nodes need not be coplanar.
Example 4.2.3. Take that same del Pezzo surface S from Example 4.1.6 as
before, and let the projection centre p := [2 : 1 : 3 : 8 : 2] be a generic point
as in Example 4.2.2, but such that p is not contained in the P 3 spanned by
the nodes on S.
Then S is projected onto a symmetroid X, which has a double smooth
conic section and four nodes that span P 3. The ramification locus for the
projection from one of the nodes on X is just as in Example 4.2.2, except the
nodes are not mapped onto a line. The dissimilar matrices
A(x) := A0x0 + A1x1 + A2x2 + A3x3,
B(x) := B0x0 + B1x1 + B2x2 + B3x3,
where
0 36 0 0 576 432 72 0
A A
0 := 36 0
0 0
0 0,
0 0
1 := −432 − 144
0 0
36 0,
− 0 0
0 0 0 0 72 36 36 0
32
288 216 126 0 279 261 72 18

−
A2 := −
−
2160
−144 0
84 0,
−
6 0
A3 := −261 −244 − 68 −17 ,
−18 17 − 4 1
126 84 48 6 72 68 16 4
and − −
0 400 0 0
B0 := 400 0
00
0 0,
0 0
0 0 0 0
8000 16000 2000 0

−
B1 := 16000 −32000 −4000 0 ,
0 − 0 − 0 0
2000 4000 400 0
24400 36800 1780 120

−
B2 := 36800 1780
−54400 −3040 −160,
3040 40 20
− −
120 − 160 20 − 0
6725 13950 85 85
−
B3 := −
13950 −28400
− 85 170
170 −170,
− 1 1
85 170 1 1
− −
have the correct determinant.
The rank 2 locus in Example 4.2.2 is contained in the union of the two planes
spanned by the nodes and the conic, respectively. The rank 2 locus of
this symmetroid is also contained in a quadric, but it is smooth. ♥
Now we turn to symmetroids with fewer isolated nodes. We will use the
same technique of projecting a del Pezzo surface. We begin by constructing
a del Pezzo surface with three nodes:
Example 4.2.4 (3-nodal quartic del Pezzo surface). We shall find a 3-nodal
del Pezzo surface S by blowing up P2 in five points. Start with distinct points
P1, P3, P5 ∈ P2 and let P2 be the point on the exceptional divisor E1 that
corresponds to the line P1P5 and let P4 be any point in E3 that does not
correspond to P3P5. Then the linear equivalence classes
e1 − e2, e3 − e4, l − e1 − e2 − e5
are effective and contracted to points.
Note that the line e4 between the nodes e1 − e2 and l − e1 − e2 − e5 is
contained in the blow-up. The same is true for the line l − e1 − e3 between
e1 − e2 and e3 − e4.
In Appendix B.5 we compute the equation of the del Pezzo surface for a
concrete example. ♥
We consider the projections of the 3-nodal del Pezzo surface.
33
Example 4.2.5. Let S be the del Pezzo surface given in Appendix B.5. The
two families of conic sections in Example 4.1.7 avoid the three singularities
and we construct the line L in the same manner.
Let the projection centre p := [0 : 3 : 1 : 0 : 0] be a point on L and project onto
the P3 given by x1 = 0. The image is the symmetroid X in Figure A.5b on page
70, which is double along two lines L1 and L2 , and has three additional nodes p1,
p2 and p3. The singular locus also contains five embedded points: The
intersection L1 ∩ L2 and two other points each on Li. Number the nodes such that
p3 is the image of e1 − e2. Then the lines p1p3 and p2p3 are contained in
X.
If we project to P2 from p3, the ramification locus is the union of two double
ˆ ˆ p
lines, L1
p1 or ˆ 2, the
, L2, and a smooth conic section C. If we project fromˆ
ramification locus is the union of two double lines, also called L1 and L2, and
two reduced lines, l1 and l2. In either case, the ramification locus, which is
showed in Figure 4.3 on page 36, is decomposable into cubics.
The two different ways of defining F11 for the projection from p3, results in
the matrices
A(x) := A0x0 + A1x1 + A2x2 + A3x3,
0 0 0 0 0
A (x) := A0 x0 + A1 x1 + A2 x2 + A3 x3,
where
0 0 8 0 384 96 72 24
−
A0 := 0 0 0 0
4 0 ,
−0 0
A1 := −96 24
− 0 0
12 − 6 −0
0,
8 4 4 0 72 12 12 6
−
192 80 −48 −8 0 16 0 0
A2 := − 8
80 32 −20 −4 ,
− 4 3 1
A3 := 16 0
0 0 0, 0 0 0
48 20 11 3 0 0 0 0
and
− − −
256 576 144 16

0
A := − 576 5616 1404 −36 ,
0
16 36 − 9 −1
144 1404 81 9
− − −
3072 10368 2592 96
−
A0 := −10368
1 − 96
3456 0
−
2592 0
0,
24
−
256 1728 1008 16
A2
0
:= 1728 1008
−12528 5724
−5724 2511
−
324, 153
16 − 324 − 153 1
34
0 230400
0
A :=
3
2304 0
0 0
0 0 .
0 0
ˆ which does not contain

If for the projection from p1 we try to define F11 as L2
the image of a node and the two reduced lines, we discover that V(F11, Δ) is
set-theoretically seven points. More precisely, five points with multiplicity 2
and two points with multiplicity 1. This is not two times a scheme of length 6 and Algorithm 1.1.4 fails.
ˆ
However, if we take which does contain the
L1
image of a node
instead of ˆ , we find the matrix

L
2
B(x) := B0x0 + B1x1 + B2x2 + B3x3,
where
0 97344 0 0
97344 0 0 0
B0 := 0 0 0 0 ,
0 0 0 0
32448 −405600 624 4368

B1 := −−405600 624
−324480 −3432 − 12480,
3432 420
−
132
− − − −
−
4368 12480 132 − 480
− 67600 75712 1300 1040
B2:= 75712 −400192 −1456 −6032,
1300 1456 25 20
− − −
1040 − 6032 − 20 − 16
54080 189280 2912 4160
−
B3 := 189280 2912
−432640 9464 −13520. 9464 196 280
− −
−
− 4160
13520 400 280
For each of the matrices A, A0 and B, the variety of singular loci associated
to the web of quadrics is the union of a plane and a 2-nodal cubic. The base
locus of the web is four points, where one of the points has multiplicity 2.
The details of the rank 2 loci and quadrics which are singular at points in
the base locus, are summarised in Table 4.3. ♥
F F
11 22 rank 2 [QP ] for P ∈ Bl(W)
ˆ ˆ 0 0
Lˆ 1 + C L 1 + 2L 2 L1, p1, p3, q2, q2 L2, p2, q1, q1
ˆ ˆ ˆ 0 0
L 2+ C 2L 1 + L 2 L2, p2, p3, q1, q1 L1, p1, q2, q2
ˆ ˆ ˆ 0 0
L 1 + l1 + l2 L 1 + 2L 2 L1, p1, p3, q2, q2 L2, p2, q1, q1
Table 4.3: Division of the ramification locus into different cubics F11 and F22
in Algorithm 1.1.4, with the resulting rank 2 loci and that quadrics that are
singular at points in the base loci.
35
ˆ
L2
pˆ2
pˆ3
ˆ
L1
(a) Ramification locus when projected (b) Ramification locus when projected
from P1. from P3.
Figure 4.3: The ramification loci of the surface X in Example 4.2.5 projected
from a node. The points marked with • are the images of the embedded
points and indicates the image of a node.
Consider now symmetroids with only two isolated singularities. Before we
can apply our projection method, we need to construct a del Pezzo surface
with two nodes:
Example 4.2.6 (2-nodal quartic del Pezzo surface). Blow up P2 in five points
P1, P2, P3, P4 , P5 that are such that the triples of points P1, P2, P3 and P1,
P4, P5 are collinear. Then l − e1 − e2 − e3 and l − e1 − e4 − e5 are contracted
to nodes. The line e1 between the two singularities is contained in the
resulting del Pezzo surface. Readers who are familiar with Segre symbols 2
will recognise this as having Segre symbol [221]. We compute the equation
of a del Pezzo surface like this in Appendix B.6.
Note that there is an inequivalent linear system of cubics passing through
five points that also defines a 2-nodal del Pezzo surface. It has Segre symbol
[(11)111]. Indeed, take a tangent direction P2 through a point P1, and say that
this corresponds to a line L through P1. Let P3, P4 and P5 be three points
lying on a line L0 = L. In this case, the line between the nodes e 1 − e 2 and
6
l − e3 − e4 − e5 is not contained in the del Pezzo surface. ♥

We use the 2-nodal del Pezzo surface from Example 4.2.6 to find a sym-
metroid with only two isolated singularities.
Example 4.2.7. We begin with the del Pezzo surface S found in Appendix
B.6. Curves in the linear equivalence classes l − e1 and 2l − e2 − e3 − e4 − e5
are conics that avoid both singularities on S and meet curves from the other
class in two points, which span a line L. The point p := [2 : −2 : 1 : −2 : 2] lies
on such a line L and is not contained in S. We choose p as the projection
centre and V(x1) as the target hyperplane.
The image of S under the projection is the symmetroid X in Figure A.5c
on page 70. Its singular locus is comprised of two double lines L1, L2, two
2
We will not need Segre symbols for anything than a shorthand notation for di fferentiating
between the linear systems in this example. Interested readers may consult [ Jes16, Article 48] for an
introduction to Segre symbols.
36
nodes p1, p2, and four embedded points: The intersection L1 ∩ L2, two points
0
q1, q1 ∈ L1 and one other point q2 ∈ L2. ˆ ˆ
The ramification locus Rp1 is the two double lines L1 and L2 coming from
L ˆ is tangent
1 and L2 and a smooth, reduced conic section C. The line L2
ˆ
to C. The point p2 is mapped onto L1, as shown in Figure 4.4.
ˆ ˆ
L2
L1
qˆ2
qˆ1
pˆ2 qˆ10
Figure 4.4: The ramification locus of the surface X in Example 4.2.7

projected from a node. It consists of two double lines and a reduced conic.
One of the lines is tangent to the conic. The points marked with • are the
images of the embedded points and indicates the image of a node.
If we let F11 := L2 + C, then we find that V(F11, Δ) is the union of a triple

point, a single point and four double points. Consequently, there is no
subscheme ZΔ of length 6 such that V(F11, Δ) = 2ZΔ. Thus Algorithm 1.1.4
does not work. If we on the other hand let F11 := L1 + C, then the algorithm
produces the matrix
A(x) := A0x0 + A1x1 + A2x2 + A3x3,
where
0 100 0 0 9 48 12 3
A A −
0 := 100
0
0
0
0 0,0 0
1 := −48 −1056
− 3 16
264 − 4
−16 ,1
0 0 0 0 12 264 16 4
− −
24 222 48 2 24 2 12 2
−
A2 := 222 − 216 − 144
−
2 6 4
6 , −
4
A3 := 22
−504 46
276 −
24 −
46 .
4
48 144 96 4 12 276 144 24
− − − −
The matrix A has rank 2 in L1 , p1 , p2 and q2. The variety of singular points of the
quadrics aTAa is the union of a plane and a 1-nodal cubic. The base locus of the
web is three points, one of which has multiplicity 2. The quadrics that
are singular at points in the base locus are the quadrics along L2, as well as
0
the quadrics in q1 and q1 . ♥
There are patterns emerging from the above examples, some of which may
be general. In the ramification locus, the intersection between the double and the
reduced conic was always the image of embedded points in the singular locus of
the surface in P3. In each example, nodes were mapped either to the double
conic or the reduced conic, not to the intersection of the conics.
37
In the cases where the singular locus consisted of two double lines and n
additional nodes, the variety of singular points of the quadrics was the union
of a plane and an (n − 1)-nodal cubic. The base locus was a scheme of
length n + 2, with support in n + 1 points.
When we considered a ramification locus 2L1 + 2L2 + C where L1, L2 are
lines and C a conic and we defined F11 as L1 + C, then Algorithm 1.1.4
worked precisely when L1 contained the projected image of a node.
4.3 Quadrics Through Four General Points

We now turn to the task of expanding some of what we learnt from the
examples into generalities.
In Example 4.2.2 the base locus of the web of quadrics was four points
spanning P3. For this reason, we study the quadrics in P 3 passing through
four given points. We can also motivate this less heuristically. Consider a net
N of quadrics containing a smooth conic C of rank-2-quadrics. Let V (l1l2),
V(l10l20) be two points on C. These quadrics intersect generically in four
0 0 0 0
lines, say L1, L 1 ⊂ V(l1) and L2, L 2 ⊂ V(l 2). Then L1, L 1, L2, L 2 are fixed
0 0 0 0
in the pencil spanned by V(l1l2) and V(l1 l2 ). Letting V(l1 l2 ) run through all
the points in C, we obtain a pencil P of line-pairs Li +L0i in each of the V(li).
Since P only contains line-pairs and no smooth conic sections, the base
locus must contain a line; see Figure 2.4. Suppose that the line is Li. Then
every quadric in N passes through L1 and L2. Let W ⊃ N be a web of
quadrics, generated by N and a quadric Q. Generically, Q intersects each
line in two points, so Bl(W ) is generically four general points.
The set of quadrics through four points form a P 5 in the P9 of all quadrics.
Taking the four points to have coordinates [1 : 0 : 0 : 0], [0 : 1 : 0 : 0], [0 : 0 : 1
: 0] and [0 : 0 : 0 : 1], the P5 is parametrised by the matrix
M := y01 0 y12 y13 .
0 01 y02 y03
y
y y
y y
y 0 y
02 12 0 23
03 13 23
As discussed in Chapter 3, intersecting the rank 3 locus of M with a 3-space
yields a symmetroid. Let X be the rank 2 locus of M. It is a surface of degree
10. See Appendix B.7 for this computation. Recall Theorem 2.3.3: Since the
dimensions add up to the dimension of the ambient space, a P 3 ⊂ P5 will
always intersect X, and generically the intersection consists of 10 points. So
even though we have restricted to quadrics passing through four points, the
situation is not so special that a general 3-space yields a symmetroid with a
non-generic number of rank-2-points.
Furthermore, X breaks up into three smooth quadric surfaces Q1, Q2 and
Q3, each spanning a P3, and four planes Π1, Π2, Π3 and Π4. The components
are configured in the following manner: The Π i intersect each other in a
single point, resulting in six unique points Pk spanning P5. The Qi intersect
each other in two points, giving precisely the same six points as the planes.
The intersection between Πi and Qj is a line, totalling 12 distinct lines. Four of
these lines pass through each Pk. The lines between the points in Qi ∩ Qj do
38
4.3. Quadrics Through Four General Points
not occur as the intersection between either Qi or Qj with one of the planes
Πk. Figure 4.5 illustrates the intersection between the components in X.
The singular locus of V(det(M)) consists of four additional planes. Each of
these planes intersects three of the Πi along the same lines as the Πi
intersect the Qj. It avoids the fourth Πi completely.
Figure 4.5: Intersection of the components in the rank 2 locus X. The points
marked with • are the intersection points between two planes Π i and Πj, or
equivalently between two quadrics Qi and Qj. The solid lines are the inter-
sections between the planes and the quadrics. The dashed lines are spanned by
Q i ∩ Q j.
Smooth Conic and Four Isolated Nodes

A symmetroid which is double along a smooth conic section and four additional
points inspired us to look at quadrics through four points. The first fruit we want to
harvest from this observation is a family of symmetroids having this property. Let
Π be a plane in the P3 spanned by Q1. Then Π intersects Q1 in a conic section C.
Assume that C is smooth. Extend Π to a linear 3-space H. If H meets Q1 outside
of C, then Q1 is completely contained in H, so suppose this is not the case.
Generically H meets the planes Πi in a single point each. Since each Π i intersects
Q1 along a line, they meet H in a point3 each on C. Similarly, H meets Q2 and Q3
generically in two points each, which we assume to be outside of C. Therefore, H
contains a conic section and four additional points with rank 2, thus giving rise to
a symmetroid with the desired property.
Smooth Conic and Three Isolated Nodes

We can reduce the number of rank-2-points in H, outside of C, by choosing
Π such that some of the points in Q1 ∩ Q2 or Q1 ∩ Q3 are contained in Π. For
instance, if one of these intersection points are in Π, we generically obtain a
symmetroid which has rank 2 in a smooth conic section and three additional
3 In the concrete examples we computed, these points corresponded to embedded points

in the singular locus of the symmetroid.
39
points. For example, the matrix

0 x 3x 2x 3x0 x1
0 2
x0 0 1 − x3 − x2
1 − x2 − 0 x3 x 00
3x 2x 1
3x x 2
0 0
x
was produced in this fashion. The symmetroid it defines is showed in Figure

A.6b on page 71. It has one point embedded in the conic in the rank 2 locus.
This is opposed to previous examples, where we have had embedded points
in the singular locus, but not in the rank 2 locus. It has two further embedded
points in the singular locus. Projecting from one of the isolated nodes, the
branch curve is the union of a double conic and two lines meeting on the
conic, as shown in Figure 4.6.
Figure 4.6: The ramification locus of a symmetroid with a double conic and three
nodes, projected from an isolated node. It consists of a double smooth conic and
two reduced lines. The point marked with N is the image of the point embedded
in the rank 2 locus, the points marked with • are the images of the embedded
points in the singular locus and indicates the image of a node.
Smooth Conic and Two Isolated Nodes
For a symmetroid which has rank 2 along a smooth conic section and two
points, let Π be such that it contains Q1 ∩ Q2. Then the 3-space H will
generically only meet X in two other points. An example of this is the matrix
0 2x x +x x2
0
2x0 1
0 0x3 1 x1 ,
x
0
0x x 3 x 0
+x x 0 x
2
1 0
which defines the symmetroid in Figure A.6c on page 71. It has two points
embedded in the conic in the rank 2 locus. The projection from one of the
isolated nodes is ramified along a double conic and two lines that are both
tangent to the conic, as in Figure 4.7.
If we instead let Π contain one point p1 from Q1 ∩ Q2 and another point p2
from Q1 ∩ Q3, then C breaks down into two lines, since the line p1p2 is
contained in Q1.
Two Lines
We can go one step further and let Π be spanned by Q1 ∩ Q2 and a point in
Q1 ∩ Q3. Then H will generically meet X in two lines and a single point. This
40
4.3. Quadrics Through Four General Points
Figure 4.7: The ramification locus of a symmetroid with a double conic and two
nodes, projected from an isolated node. It consists of a double smooth conic and
two tangential lines. The points marked with N are the images of the points
embedded in the rank 2 locus and indicates the image of the node.
is a type of symmetroid that was missing from our collection. An example of
such a symmetroid is displayed in Figure A.5d on page 70. It is fgiven by the
matrix
x0 00 x3 x0 .
0 x x1 x2
1 3 0
x x x 0
2 0 0
x x 0 x
It has three embedded points in the rank 2 locus; one on each line and their
intersection. The projection from the isolated node is ramified along two
triple lines, as displayed in Figure 4.8.
Figure 4.8: The ramification locus of a symmetroid with two double lines and
a node, projected from the isolated node. It consists of two triple lines. The
points marked with N are the images of the points embedded in the rank 2
locus.
We can also recover symmetroids whose singular loci consist of two double
lines and four additional nodes in this picture. One way to go about is to choose
Π such that the conic C breaks up into two lines that avoid Q2 and Q3. By
the same argument as above, a generic P 3 containing Π intersects X in four
more points. Another approach is to let Π be a plane that cuts both Π 1 and
Π2 along a line each, say l1 and l2. Number the points and the quadrics such
that P1 = Π1 ∩ Π2 ⊂ Q1 ∩ Q2. Extend Π to a linear 3-space H. Then H
generically meets Π3 and Π4 in a single point each, and the Qi in two points
each. Since P1 is contained in Π, H only meets each of Q1 and Q2 in one
other point. We deduce that there is no further contribution from Q3, since Π1
intersects Q3 in a line that meets l1, and similarly for Π2.
41
It is possible to reduce the number of rank-2-points outside the two lines

in the last case. For instance, if l1 is spanned by P1 and P2 := Π1 ∩ Π3 then
the number of additional rank-2-points drops to two, since either Q1 or Q2
pass through P2, say Q1. If, in addition, l2 is spanned by P3 := Π2 ∩ Π4, the
number of rank-2-points only drops to one, since Q1 also passes through P3,
which can be seen from the computations in Appendix B.7.
Degenerate Cases
In the above account we utilised that a P3 ⊂ P5 generically meets the quadric
Qi in two points. It can well happen that these two points coincide, so the P 3
intersects Qi in one point with multiplicity 2.
For instance, we can start with a plane containing Q1 ∩ Q2 , and extend
this to a 3-space meeting Q3 in a single point. Thus the resulting symmetroid
has rank 2 along a conic section and in that point. The matrix
x0 0 − x3 −x0 + x1
0 x0 x0 − x1 x2
−
− 0 x x +x x 0
x 2 x1 0 1 0 x0
−
is an example of this, defining the symmetroid in Figure A.6d on page 71.
We can unearth this geometric description by excavating algebra. The
saturated ideal of the rank 2 locus is
2 2 2
I := x 1 + x2x3, x0x2x3, x0x1x3, x 0x3, x0x1x2, x 0x2 .
The associated prime ideals are hx0 , x21 + x2x3i, corresponding to the conic
section; hx1, x2, x3i, corresponding to where the P3 meets Q3; the ideals hx0,
x1 , x2 i, hx0, x1, x3i, corresponding to the embedded points Q1 ∩ Q2, which is
also the points where the planes Πi meet the conic section. One possible
primary decomposition of I is
2 2 2 2 2 2
x0, x 1 + x2x3 ∩ x 1, x2, x3 ∩ x 0, x 1, x0x1, x2 ∩ x 0, x 1, x0x1, x3 .
Notice that the point corresponding to the intersection with Q3 is represented
by the ideal x21, x2, x3 of degree 2 in the decomposition.
Another degenerated example is
M := x0 0 x2 x3 .
0 x0 x1 7x1 − 3x2
0
7x 1 3x x 2 x 0
1x 2 3 0 x
−
The matrix M was found by letting a point p ∈ Q1 ∩ Q2 be contained in Π and
then extend Π to a 3-space H that intersects Q1 ∩ Q2 twice in p, rather than
in two different points. Hence the rank 2 locus consists of a conic section
and two points, instead of three.
4.4 Conjectures
Having a accumulated a sizeable collection of symmetroids, we have an idea
about what is possible and what is not. We propose two conjectures. The
42
4.4. Conjectures
attempted proofs are missing the same detail. Namely, we have not been
able to exclude the possibility that the ramification locus consists of a double
conic and two lines meeting on the conic.
3
Lemma 4.4.1. All lines on a projected quartic del Pezzo surface X in P meet
the double conic.
Proof. In the proof of Theorem 4.1.5, Dolgachev gives the following
description of the curve C ⊂ S ⊂ P4 which is mapped onto the double conic:
Let H be the tangent hyperplane of Qp at p, then C = S ∩ H.
Let l be a line on X and Π the plane in P4 spanned by l and p. Then H
cuts Π along a line L. And Π meets S in some curve K, since l ⊂ X. The
claim
follows because ? =6 K ∩ L ⊂ S ∩ H = C.
2
Corollary 4.4.2. All singularities on the branch curve in P of the projection
3
from an isolated node on a projected quartic del Pezzo surface X ⊂ P are
the images of singularities on X.
Proof. In general, a singularity on the branch curve of the projection from a node
on a quartic Q in P3, is either the image of a singularity on Q or the image of a
line on Q passing through the projection centre. Lemma 4.4.1 states that if such
a line exits on X, its image coincides with the image of a singularity.
3
Conjecture 4.4.3. Let X be an irreducible quartic surface in P which is
double along a smooth conic section and has a single isolated node p. If X is
a symmetroid, then p is a rank-3-point.
Partial proof. If p has rank 2 or less, then Theorem 1.1.2 implies that the
projection P3 99K P2 from p is ramified along two cubics. The ramification locus
contains a double smooth conic section C, which is the image of the double
conic on X, and another conic section C 0. For this sextic to split into two cubics,
C 0 must be a pair of lines, hence have a singular point. By Theorem 4.1.5, X is a
projected 1-nodal quartic del Pezzo surface. Corollary 4.4.2, combined with the
fact that X has no further nodes, implies that C 0 is either nonsingular or two lines
meeting on C. We are done if can show the latter is not possible.
Recall from Section 4.3 that we saw the conic break up into lines when
we attempted to reduce the number of isolated nodes to one.
3
Conjecture 4.4.4. Let X ⊂ P be an irreducible quartic surface which is
double along a smooth conic section and has two additional nodes, p 1 and p2.
4
Suppose that X is the projection of a 2-nodal del Pezzo surface S ⊂ P with
Segre symbol [221]. If X is a symmetroid, then p1 and p2 are rank-3-points.
Partial proof. Consult Example 4.2.6 for details about del Pezzo surfaces
with Segre symbol [221].
Just as for Conjecture 4.4.3, the ramification locus for the projection from
either p1 or p2 is the union of a smooth double conic C and another conic C0.
For pi to be a rank-2-point, C0 must be singular.
The line p p 1 2is contained in X, since the line between the two nodes on S
is contained in S. By Lemma 4.4.1, p p intersects the double conic. Thus p2 is
1 2
mapped to C in the projection from p1. Since there are no other singularities
on X, C0 is either smooth or two lines meeting on C.
43
One could imagine that one way to complete the proofs is to start with a
sextic curve R in the plane, consisting of a double conic and two lines
meeting on that conic. Then one constructs a surface S having R as
ramification locus when projected from a node. Finally, one shows that S is
not one of the surfaces in the conjectures. Alas, this gives no conclusion;
several surfaces can have the same ramification locus. For instance, if l, l1, l2
∈ C[x1, x2, x3]1 are linear forms, q ∈ C[x1, x2, x3]2 is a quadratic form and k1,
1
k2 ∈ C are such that k1k2 = 4 , then
2 2 2 2 2
V k1l1l2x0 − k2q V k1l1l2x0 + l1l2lx0 + k2 l1l2l − q
1 0 2 1l 2 1 0 + lx 0 l2 l1l2
V − V −
q k x2 k l q k x2 + k2
0
2 2 2
k1 l l1 l2 x + qlx0 + k2q
V −
are quartic surfaces in P3 that all have VP2 l1l2q2 as their ramification locus,
when projected to V(x0) with projection centre [1 : 0 : 0 : 0].
44
CHAPTER 5
Symmetroids with a Double Line
Art, like morality, consists of

drawing the line somewhere.
G. K. Chesterton
G E N E R I C A L LY, a quartic symmetroid has only finitely many singularities. We

have found several symmetroids that are singular along a curve of degree 2. There
ought to be intermediate specimens, so we direct our focus at symmetroids that have
nodes along a single line, apart from some
isolated singularities.
Pictures of some of the surfaces in this chapter can be found in Appendix A.
A First Estimate
Consider a quartic symmetroid S ⊂ P3. Let p ∈ S be an isolated node such
that the projection πp : S \ {p} → P2 from p is ramified along two cubics, F11
and F22. Suppose that S has a determinantal representation obtained from
Algorithm 1.1.4. In this representation, the rank 2 locus of S is mapped onto
F11
Now∩F 22 .
assume that S has rank 2 along a line. Then F11 and F22
share a common line. The remaining components of F11 and F22 are two conics
that generically intersect in four points. Taking the projection centre into account,
we expect, a priori, that a symmetroid which has rank 2 along a line to have
generically five other rank-2-points.
Note that the same type of analysis yields that a generic symmetroid
which has rank 2 along a double conic, will have two isolated rank-2-points.
This is contrary to our experience with four nodes being the least special in
Section 4.3. When we computed the ramification curves of symmetroids with
more than two isolated nodes, we saw that some of the isolated nodes were
mapped to the double conic in the plane.
5.1 Quadrics Through Four Coplanar Points

We are primarily interested in symmetroids which have rank 2 along a line
and no rank-1-points. Recall from Section 3.3 that if a pencil of rank-2-
quadrics contains no rank-1-quadric, then it fixes a plane and a line not
contained in that plane.
5. Symmetroids with a Double Line
We thus start with two quadrics, Q1 and Q2 , having a plane Π and a line l
in common. A symmetroid gives rise to a whole web of quadrics, so we
extend this to four independent quadrics, Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4. Both Q3 and Q4
intersect Π in a conic and l in two points each. Generically, the points on l do
not coincide, but the two conics intersect in four points. Hence the base
locus of the web is four coplanar points.
First, observe that if three of the points are collinear, then the symmetroid is a
double quadric. Indeed, let Π := V(x3) and choose the points [1 : 0 : 0 : 0], [0 : 1 :
0 : 0], [1 : 1 : 0 : 0] on the line V(x2 , x3), as well as the point [0 : 0 : 1 : 0]. Then
the P5 of quadrics passing through these four points is parametrised by
y y
0 0 12 13 ,
y y
0 0 02 03
0
y 02 y 12 y y 23
y y y
03 13 23 33
2
which has determinant (y03y12 − y02y 13) . Therefore the intersection of a 3-
space in P5 with the rank 3 locus is a double quadric.
Assume instead that the four coplanar points are in general position. Let the
points have coordinates [1 : 0 : 0 : 0], [0 : 1 : 0 : 0], [0 : 0 : 1 : 0] and [1 : 1 : 1 : 0].
Then the P5 of quadrics passing through these points is parametrised by
M := y01
y
0 −y01
y
− y02 y13 .
y
0 01 02 03
y 02 − y − y02
y
y y
y
y 01 0 23
03 13 23 33
We calculate similarly as in Appendix B.7 and find that rank M = 1 only in the
point P := [0 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 1], which corresponds to the quadric 2Π. The rank 2
locus X consists of a linear 3-space T and three quadric surfaces K1, K2 and K3.
All the Ki meet in P . Each Ki intersects T along two lines, li and Li. The lines are
concurrent, meeting in P . It is possible to label the lines in such a way that the all
the li are contained in a plane Πl , and the Li in another plane ΠL. The singular
locus Y of V (det(M)) has the same description, but it also includes four
embedded planes in T that intersect each other along the lines li
and
WeL i .
will now look at the symmetroids we can obtain by choosing
different linear 3-spaces in this P5.
Six Isolated Rank-2-Points

A generic P3 ⊂ P5 will cut T along a line and meet each Ki in two points. The
resulting symmetroid thus has a rank 2 locus consisting of a line and six
other points. How does this fit in with our estimate of the number of isolated
nodes? Let us look at an example, such as the symmetroid given by
−
−x0 0 x0 + x1 + 2x2 − x3 x2 .
x x
0 −x0 − 1 − 2x2 + x3 1
− 1 −x 2 3 0 1 x 2 3 x x3
x 2x + x x + x + 2x
1
x 0 x2 3 0
46
5.1. Quadrics Through Four Coplanar Points
It is drawn in Figure A.2a on page 68. There are four embedded points in the
singular locus and the rank 2 locus is contained in a quadric. The ramification
locus is as predicted two conics and a double line although the conclusion
about the number of rank-2-points is wrong. This is because one of the
nodes is mapped onto the double line. The situation is completely analogous
to Ex-ample 4.2.2, where two nodes were mapped onto the double conic.
The branch curve is displayed in Figure 5.1 on the following page.
It can happen that a 3-space H in P5 intersects the rank 3 locus of M in
such a way that the intersection has singularities that are not in Y . For
instance, the symmetroid in Figure A.1b on page 67, given by
x0 0 −x0 − x1 2x3
x x
0 0 1 2x2 + x3
−
2x + x − 2x x x2
2 3 3 2 3
x1 x0 x1 0 x
is singular along a line and has seven isolated nodes, of which only six are
rank-2-points. The rank 2 locus is contained in a quadric surface, but the
rank-3-node is not on the quadric. In addition, there are four points
embedded in the singular locus.
Projection from one of the rank-2-points gives a ramification locus that
consists of a double line, two reduced lines and a smooth conic section.
Three of the six points are collinear. If the projection centre is one of these,
then the two other nodes on that line are mapped to the same point in P 2.
This causes one of the reduced lines to be tangent to the conic. This story is
depicted in Figure 5.2 on the following page. Considering the projection from
the rank-3-node instead, we get five general lines, with one of them being
double, as in Figure 5.3 on the next page.
There is one lesson to take away from these ramification loci: It is
impossible to divide them into cubics such that the cubics have all the
images of the nodes in common. Thus there exists no matrix representation
of this symmetroid such that all the isolated nodes have rank 2.
We can also find symmetroids like this in the context of Section 4.3.
Using the notation of Section 4.3, start with a line l in Π1 and extend it to a 3-
space H containing l. Generically, H meets the other Πi in one point each
and Qi in two points each. But since Π1 cuts each Qi along a line, one of
these points are on l. Hence H contains six isolated rank-2-points. Since
there is a plane in the singular locus of V(det(M)) not meeting Π1, the
symmetroid will have seven isolated nodes.
Likewise, extend a line l on Q1 to a 3-space H. A plane through l cuts Q1
in another line l 0. As noted earlier, the Πi all meet the conic l + l0 . It is not
possible to find a point pi ∈ Πi ∩ Q1 for each i such that three of them are
collinear. One consequence is that exactly two of the Πi meet l. The same is
true of the four extra planes in the singular locus of V(det(M)). Therefore H
meets the rank 2 locus generically in l and six isolated rank-2-points and two
rank-3-points. An example is the symmetroid given by
x0 − x1 + x2 − 01 2 0 x3
−
x1 .
x x x
0 0 x +x x + x3 1 0
− 3 2
0 + x3 1 x x 0
0 1 2
x x x x 0 x
47
A similar symmetroid with a less pretty matrix, but with only real nodes is
shown in Figure A.1a on page 67.
Figure 5.1: The ramification locus of a symmetroid with a double line and six
nodes, projected from an isolated node. It consists of two conics and a
double line. The points marked with • are the images of the embedded
(a) No two nodes lie on the same line (b) Two nodes lie on the same line
through the projection centre. through the projection centre.
Figure 5.2: The ramification locus of a symmetroid with a double line and
seven nodes, projected from an isolated rank-2-point. It consists of a conic,
two reduced lines and a double line. The point marked with is the image of
the rank-3-node, the points marked with • are the images of the embedded
seven nodes, projected from the rank-3-node. It consists of five general
lines, one of which is double. The points marked with • are the images of the
embedded points in the singular locus and indicates the image of a node.
48
Five Isolated Rank-2-Points

Let p be a point on one of the lines li or Lj . A P3 that contains p will
generically intersect X in a line and five points. The symmetroid defined by
−x0 + x1 − 0 x0 − x1 − x2 x0
0 x0 + x1 x2 x3
3
x 2
0 − x1 − 2 x x
x 3 x x0 x 3 1
was found this way. A similar symmetroid with real nodes is plotted in Fig-ure
A.3a on page 68. The rank 2 locus is contained in a quadric surface and it
contains an embedded point. Two additional points are embedded in the
singular locus. The projection from one of the isolated nodes is ramified
along two conics and a double line that is tangent to one of the conics, as
shown in Figure 5.4.
Figure 5.4: The ramification locus of a symmetroid with a double line and five
nodes, projected from an isolated node. It consists of two conics and a
double line, which is tangent to one of them. The point marked with N is the
image of the point embedded in the rank 2 locus, the points marked with •
are the images of the embedded points in the singular locus and indicates
the image of a node.
Again, we can choose the 3-space such that the symmetroid has
singularities not contained in Y . The determinant of the matrix
0
x0 0 −x0 − x1 x3
x x
0 x 1 2
2
x 1 − 0x− 1 x x
2 3 2 3
x x x 0 x
defines a symmetroid that is double along a line and has six isolated nodes,
of which five are rank-2-points. The rank 2 locus is contained in a quadric
which also contains the rank-3-node. One point is embedded in the rank 2
locus and two other points are embedded in the singular locus.
The five isolated rank-2-points are coplanar, and the conic passing through
them is a line-pair. The lines intersect in one of the rank-2-points, say q, and
there are two additional rank-2-points on each line. Hence, no matter which of
the nodes we project from, two nodes are mapped to the same point. Projecting
from q, the other rank-2-points are mapped to two points. The ramification
49
locus is a conic, two reduced lines and a double line. Projecting from the
rank-3-point, the branch curve consists of five lines, one of which is double.
The double line and two of the other lines are concurrent. The ramification
loci are displayed in Figures 5.5 and 5.6. It is impossible to divide the branch
curves into cubics such that they have the image of all the nodes in common.
Hence this symmetroid is different from the symmetroid with a double line
and six rank-2-nodes.
(a) Two nodes lie on the same line (b) Two pairs of two nodes lie on the
through the projection centre. same lines through the projection
centre.
Figure 5.5: The ramification locus of a symmetroid with a double line, five
rank-2-nodes and one rank-3-node, projected from a rank-2-node. It consists
of a conic, two reduced lines and a double line. The point marked with is
the image of the rank-3-node, the point N is embedded in the rank 2 locus,
the points marked with • are the images of the embedded points in the
singular locus and indicates the image of a node.
Figure 5.6: The ramification locus of a symmetroid with a double line, five
rank-2-nodes and one rank-3-node, projected from the rank-3-node. It
consists of five lines, one of which is double. Three of the lines are
concurrent. The point marked with N is embedded in the rank 2 locus, the
points marked with • are the images of the embedded points in the singular
locus and indicates the image of a node.
Four Isolated Rank-2-Points

Let p1 be a point on one of the li, and p2 a point on one of the Lj. A 3-space
containing both p1 and p2 will generically intersect the rank 2 locus X in the
line p1p2 and in four points. The matrix
x0 0 −x0 + x1 − x2 x1
x x
0 0 −x1 + x2 3
− −
− 1 x+ 2 0 +x 1 2 x x1
x 3 xx 1 1 2
50
was obtained in this procedure. A symmetroid like this with real singularities
is drawn in Figure A.3b on page 68. It has one point embedded with
multiplicity 2 in the rank 2 locus and two points embedded in the singular
locus. The rank 2 locus lies on a quadric surface. The projection from one of
the isolated nodes is branched along two smooth conics that are tangent in a
point q and a double line passing through q. This is illustrated in Figure 5.7.
Figure 5.7: The ramification locus of a symmetroid with a double line and four
nodes, projected from an isolated node. It consists of two tangential conics and a
double line passing through the point of tangency. The point marked with N is
the image of the point embedded in the rank 2 locus, the points marked with
• are the images of the embedded points in the singular locus and indicates
the image of a node.
Three Isolated Rank-2-Points
Symmetroids that are singular along a line and have three isolated rank-2-
points come in two flavours.
For the first flavour, let p1 ∈ l1 and p2 ∈ l2. Then the line p1p2 meets l3,
since the li are coplanar. Hence a 3-space containing p1 and p2 generically
intersects X in p1p2 and three other points. The matrix
0
x0 0 −x0 − x1 x3
0 x x1 x2
3
x 1 − 0x− 1 x x
2 3 3 1
x x x 0 x
is an example of a symmetroid like this. Another symmetroid with real nodes is
shown in Figure A.4a on page 69. It has no rank-1-points. The rank 2 locus is
contained in a quadric and there are three points embedded in it. The branch
curve has the same description as for the symmetroid with a double line and four
nodes. The images of the embedded points are marked in Figure 5.8.
The second flavour comes about by taking a 3-space H that contains the
rank-1-point P . Since P ∈ K1 ∩ K2 ∩ K3, generically H intersects each Ki in
one further point. Hence the resulting symmetroid has a rank-1-point on a
line of rank-2-points and three additional rank-2-points. One such
symmetroid is given by
x0 + x1 0 −2x0 − x1 x1 .
x x
0 x0 + x1 0 2
2
x − x− x x
2 1 2 3
x0 2x0 x1 0 x
51
It is drawn in Figure A.4b on page 69. The rank-1-point is embedded in the

rank 2 locus and there is one other point embedded in the singular locus.
The rank 2 locus is not contained in a quadric. The branch curve is a conic,
a triple line that is tangent to the conic and another reduced line. This is
drawn in Figure 5.9.
Figure 5.8: The ramification locus of a symmetroid with a double line, three
nodes and no rank-1-point, projected from an isolated node. It consists of
two tangential conics and a double line passing through the point of
tangency. The points marked with N are the images of the points embedded
in the rank 2 locus and indicates the image of a node.
Figure 5.9: Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line, three
nodes and a rank-1-point, projected from an isolated node. It consists of a
triple line, a reduced line and a conic that is tangent to the triple line. The
point marked with N is the image of the rank-1-point, the point marked with •
is the image of the embedded point in the singular locus and indicates the
image of a node.
Two Isolated Rank-2-Points

If H contains the rank-1-point P and a point p ∈ l1, then l1 is contained in H.
Also, H will generically not intersect K1 further and only meet K2 and K3 in one
more point each. In summary, the symmetroid will have one rank-1-point, a
line of rank-2-points and two isolated rank-2-points. An example of such a
symmetroid is shown in Figure A.4c on page 69. It is given by the matrix
2x0 + x1 0 −2x0 − 2x1 x1 .
x x
0 2x0 + x1 1 0
1 −
x − 0x 1 x x2
x 0
2x 1 2x 0
2
x
3
52
5.2. Linear System
The rank-1-point is embedded in the rank 2 locus, and there are two further
embedded points in the singular locus. There is a quadric surface containing
the rank 2 locus. The projection from one of the isolated nodes has a branch
curve consisting of a quadruple line and two reduced lines. See Figure 5.10.
two nodes, projected from an isolated node. It consists of a quadruple line
and two reduced lines. The point marked with N is the image of the rank-1-
point, the points marked with • are the images of the embedded points in the
singular locus and indicates the image of the node.
If we attempt to reduce the number of nodes further, by letting H contain
a point on one of the other lines li or Lj, then H will cut T along a plane. The
symmetroid will thus be reducible.
Remark 5.1.1. Discount the symmetroids that either have a rank-1-point or a
singularity that was not originally a singular point on the discriminant hyper-
surface in the P5 of quadrics through four coplanar points. Then the number
of isolated rank-2-points and points embedded in the rank 2 locus is six,
counted with multiplicity for all of the above examples.
In Chapter 4, the corresponding statement is that the number of isolated
nodes and points embedded in the rank 2 locus is four. This is not true for
Examples 4.2.5 and 4.2.7, but the rank 2 locus is not equal to the singular locus
in the matrix representations we have for those symmetroids. ♣
5.2 Linear System

Consider the linear system of quartic curves passing through nine given points
P1, . . . , P9 ∈ P2, going twice through P1. By [Jes16, Article 79], any quartic
surface S ⊆ P3 with a double line is the image of the map ϕ: P2 → P3 induced by
the linear system. Consequently, all the symmetroids found above are rational.
Let us acquaint ourselves with this linear system. It is the plane cubic
passing through the Pi that is contracted to the double line on S. Indeed, the
plane quartics in the linear system correspond to the hyperplane sections
9
H := 4l − 2e1 − P i=2 ei on S. Since these are singular in one point, S must be
singular along a curve of degree 1, that is, a line L. Intersect S with a plane
containing L. By Bézout’s theorem, this intersection is 2L + C for some conic C.
The pencil of such planes gives a pencil of conics, which in P 2 corresponds to
9
the pencil l − e1 of lines through P1. Hence B := H − (l − e1) = 3l − P ei
i=1
is common for all the hyperplanes containing L, which is precisely the linear
equivalence class of the cubic passing through Pi.
If the Pi constitute the complete intersection of two cubic curves, then ϕ is
a two-to-one map and the image is a quadric [Jes16, Article 80].
53
A quartic surface with a double line can have up to eight isolated nodes,
in which case it is called Plücker’s surface. To see this, let Pi+4 be a point on
the exceptional line Ei for i = 2, 3, 4, 5 such that P1, Pi, Pi+4 are collinear.
Then the classes
l − e1 − e2 − e6 e2 − e6
l − e1 − e3 − e7 e3 − e7
l − e1 − e4 − e8 e4 − e8
l − e1 − e5 − e9 e5 − e9
are effective and contracted to eight distinct nodes on S. One could imagine
that it is possible to push this to nine nodes by letting P2, P3, P4, P5 be
collinear so that l − e2 − e3 − e4 − e5 is another node. But observe that
(l − e2 − e3 − e4 − e5) · B = −1.
Hence it is contained in the double line. It should be clear how one can let
the Pi have a more general position to obtain fewer nodes.
Ideally, we would like to give necessary conditions on the configuration of the
nine points for the linear system to give rise to a symmetroid. Recall from
Section 1.1 that if S is a symmetroid, then there exist cubic surfaces that are
tangent to S along a sextic curve of arithmetic genus 3. We would like to
describe these sextics via the linear system. The intersection between S and a
cubic surface has linear equivalence class 3H. The aim is therefore to write 3H
as 2C + A, where C has degree 6 and genus 3, and A has degree 0. A specious
candidate is C := 5l 3e 9 e and A := 2l 9 e . We check that C
P P
is as required: − 1− i=2 i − i=2 i
deg(C) = C · H = 5 · 4 − 3 · 2 − 8 · 1 = 6,
1
ρa(C) = 2 (5 − 1)(5 − 2) − 3 · (3 − 1) − 8 · 1 · (1 − 1) = 3.
The obvious problem is that if A is effective, then the Pi constitute the
complete intersection of two cubics and S is a quadric. We therefore settle
for describing A and C in examples.
Example 5.2.1. In Appendix B.8 we let the Pi be such that P3 P2, P5 P4, P7 P6
and the triples P1 , P2, P3; P1, P4, P5 and P1, P6, P7 are collinear. Lastly, we
let P8 be P9 be general points. The resulting quartic S is then singular along
9
the double line B = 3l − P i=1 ei and in the six nodes
A1 := l − e1 − e2 − e3, A4 := e2 − e3,
A2 := l − e1 − e4 − e5, A5 := e4 − e5,
A3 := l − e1 − e6 − e7, A6 := e6 − e7.
We project from A4 and find a symmetric matrix M representing S, using
Algorithm 1.1.4. The rank 2 locus is all of the Ai and B.
We consider the curve C defined by the (3 × 3)-minors of the submatrix
of M obtained by removing the first column. Having defined the ring map
corresponding to ϕ in Macaulay2, we can investigate how C is represented
in the linear system. The sextic decomposes into the quartic curve
3l − e1 − 2e2 − e4 − e6 − e8 − e9,
54
5.2. Linear System
the exceptional line e2 and the associated reduced line of B. Hence
2C = 2(3l − e1 − 2e2 − e4 − e6 − e8 − e9) + 2e2 + B

= 9l − 3e1 − 3e2 − e3 − 3e4 − e5 − 3e6 − e7 − 3e8 − 3e9.
Note that 3H − 2C = A1 + A2 + A3 + A4 + A5 + A6.
Lastly, removing different columns of M gives four independent sextic
curves of genus 3. The system
|(3l − e1 − 2e2 − e4 − e6 − e8 − e9) + e2| = |3l − e1 − e2 − e4 − e6 − e8 − e9|
has the correct dimension to account for this, since there is a web of plane
cubics passing through the six points. ♥
Let S be a symmetroid with matrix M. The (3 × 3)-minors of a (3 × 4)-

submatrix of M define a sextic curve with arithmetic genus 3. The rank 2
locus is given by all the (3 × 3)-minors of M and hence is in the base locus of
the web generated by these four sextics.
In all the examples we have seen of symmetroids with a double line, the
double line has been contained in the rank 2 locus. Therefore it is tempting to
conjecture that B must be contained in 2C, just as in the previous example.
We will now present a counterexample to this conjecture.
Example 5.2.2. In Appendix B.9 we start with a smooth conic K and let P2,
P4 and P6 be three points on K. Then for i = 2, 4, 6, let Pi+1 be the point on
the exceptional divisor over Pi corresponding to the tangent direction of K at
Pi. Define P1 as the intersection of the tangent lines of K at P2 and P4.
Finally, let P8 and P9 be two points not on K, on a line through P1.
Then the image S of ϕ has, in addition to the double line, the nodes
A1 := l − e1 − e2 − e3, A2 := l − e1 − e4 − e5,
A3 := e2 − e3, A4 := e4 − e5,
A5 := e6 − e7.
The cubic passing through the Pi is the union of K and the line through P1, P8
and P9. Because of this, the singularity A := l − e1 − e8 − e9 is a point on the
double line B.
The projection from A 1 is ramified along a singular, irreducible cubic
curve, a reduced line and a double line. The two lines meet on the cubic, as
in Figure 5.11 on the next page. Hence it is not possible to divide the branch
curve into two cubics having a common line, so B is not contained in the rank
2 locus. Using Algorithm 1.1.4 we find a matrix M for S. The rank 2 locus is a
scheme of length 10. It consists of A, with multiplicity 3, and two other points
on B, with multiplicity 2 each. These three points are embedded in the
singular locus. In addition, A1, A4 and A5 are rank-2-points. The rank 2 locus
is not contained in a quadric.
Let C be the curve on S determined by the (3 × 3)-minors of the submatrix
obtained by removing the first column of M. We have not been able to describe
C via the linear system, but it is a simple task to verify that the reduced line
associated to B is not a component of C. ♥
55
This does not mean that no choice of curve C contains B or its

associated reduced line:
Example 5.2.3. If we in Example 5.2.2 instead define C by removing the
second column of M , rather than the first, then C consists of two double
lines and a conic. These correspond to B, two times the exceptional line e3
and l − e4 − e6, respectively. Since
C = B + 2e3 + (l − e4 − e6)
= 4l − e1 − e2 + e3 − 2e4 − e5 − 2e6 − e7 − e8 − e9,
then
3H − 2C = 4l − 4e1 − e2 − 5e3 + e4 − e5 + e6 − e7 − e8 − e9.
This can be written as A + 3A1 + 2A3 + A4 + A5. ♥
Figure 5.11: Ramification locus for a symmetroid with a double line that is not
contained in the rank 2 locus. It consists of a singular cubic, as well as a reduced
line and a double line meeting on the cubic. The points marked with are the
images of isolated rank-3-nodes. Both • and indicate the images of rank-2-
points, but • means that the points are embedded in the singular locus.
5.3 Double Line Not Contained in the Rank 2 Locus
How rare is it that a symmetroid is double along a line, but that line is not
contained in the rank 2 locus? It turns out that we are able to find at least as
many of these as of symmetroids where the double line is contained in the rank
2 locus.
Consider the web W of quadrics defined by the matrix in Example 5.2.2.
Its base locus is a scheme of length 4, consisting of a scheme of length 2
with support in a point p1, as well as two other points p2 and p3 . Choosing
coordinates such that the points are p1 := [1 : 0 : 0 : 0], p2 := [0 : 1 : 0 : 0] and
p3 := [0 : 0 : 1 : 0], we may take V(xy + xw ), V(xz), V(yz), V(yw), V(zw) and V
2
w as a basis for the quadrics passing through Bl(W ). The matrix
parametrising this P5 of quadrics is
M := y01 0 y12 y13 .
0 y01 y02 y01
0
y 02 y 12 y y 23
y y y
01 13 23 33
56
5.4. Dimensions of Families of Rational Symmetroids
With a computation similar to the one in Appendix B.7, we find that Sing
V(det(M)) is the union of a linear 3-space T , a smooth quadratic sur-face Q
and four planes Πi. The quadric Q and two of the planes, Π1 and Π2, are in
the rank 2 locus. In addition, there is a double quadric surface and a double
plane in the rank 2 locus which are completely contained in T . A general 3-
space H ⊂ P5 will intersect the singular locus in a line and six points. Also, H
meets the rank 2 locus in seven points, three of which are double. One such
symmetroid is
0 x+x x +x x+x
x0 + x1 3
0 2
0 1 2 x2 3 0 x0
1
1 ,
x2 +x x x x
x +x x 0 x
0 1 0 1 3
which is displayed in Figure A.2b on page 68.

The 3-space T is the set of quadrics passing through Bl(W ) that are sin-gular
at p1 . That the discriminant hypersurface in P 5 is singular along T is immediate
from Lemma 3.2.2. The quadratic surface of rank 2 quadrics inside
T corresponds to surfaces Π1 ∪ Π2, where Π1 is a plane containing p1p2
and Π2 is a plane containing p1p3. The plane of rank 2 quadrics in T is the
set of quadrics that are the unions of the plane p1p2p3 and another plane
through p1. We see that both these surfaces contain the rank-1-point
corresponding to twice p1p2p3.
The components Q and Πi are cut along a line each by T . The planes Π1 and
Π2 of rank-2-quadrics meet in a single point. So do the planes Π 3 and Π4; they
intersect in the rank-1-point. The two planes Π 1 and Π3 meet in a line on Q.
Likewise for Π2 and Π4. The intersections Π1 ∩ Π4 and Π2 ∩ Π3 are empty.
Example 5.3.1. Let H be a 3-space containing the line L := Π3 ∩ T . Then L
intersects Π4 in the rank-1-point. The line Π1 ∩ Q ⊂ Π3 cuts L in a point P .
Generically, H will meet Q in another point and intersect Π2 in a single point
outside L. However, H can in degenerate cases intersect Q with multiplicity 2 in P
. Thus the resulting symmetroid is double along a line and has one additional
rank-2-point. An example of such a symmetroid is defined by the matrix
0 x x1 x0
x 0
0 0 x0 x1
.
x1 x0 0 x2
x0 x1 x2 x3
It is shown in Figure A.4d on page 69. ♥
5.4 Dimensions of Families of Rational Symmetroids

Recall from Section 3.1 that there is a correspondence between the quartic
symmetroids in P3 and linear 3-spaces in P9. By [Har92, Lecture 11, p. 138], the
dimension of the Grassmannian of k-dimensional, linear subspaces of Pn is
dim G(k, n) = (k + 1)(n − k). (5.1)

(3+4 )
Therefore the symmetroids form a 24-dimensional variety in the P 4 −1 =
P34 of all quartic surfaces in P3.
We have looked at webs of quadrics with three different base loci:
57
(i) four general points in Section 4.3,
(ii) four coplanar points in Section 5.1,
(iii) a scheme of length 4 with support in three points in Section 5.3.
We will now compute the dimensions of the families of rational symmetroids

these induce.
Four General Points

We want to compute the dimension of the family of rational symmetroids that
are found by considering webs of quadrics with a base locus containing four
general points. While we have mostly focused on symmetroids with a double
conic, for ease of computation, we restrict to the case where the P 3 cuts one
of the Πi or the extra planes in Sing V(det(M)) in a line. These symmetroids
are briefly discussed in Section 5.1.
To give four points in P3 is the same as giving a 4-tuple in P3 ×P3 ×P3 ×P3.
Naturally, there are 4-tuples that do not correspond to points spanning P 3,
but removing them do not affect the dimension. Therefore, the set of all
choices of four general points has dimension 4 · 3 = 12.
We have from [Har92, Example 11.42] that the subvariety of G(k, n)
consist-ing of k-planes K, which intersects a fixed m-plane M such that
dim(K∩M) ≥ l, has dimension
(l + 1)(m − l) + (k − l)(n − k). (5.2)

Hence, given four general points we get in this way a 6-dimensional family of
symmetroids with a double line. In total, varying the four points yields a
family of rational quartic symmetroids of dimension 12 + 6 = 18.
Four Coplanar Points

The first three points can be chosen freely, and the last point must be in the
plane spanned by the other three. Hence giving four coplanar points is the
same as giving a 4-tuple in P3 × P3 × P3 × P2, which is 11-dimensional.
We have seen that a general 3-space in the P 5 of quadrics through four
coplanar points gives a rational symmetroid. Equation (5.1) gives that the
dimension of G(3, 5) is 8. So all together with the different choices of four
coplanar points, we get a family of rational quartic symmetroids of dimension
11+8=19.
Scheme of Length 4 with Support in Three Points

The three points can be chosen freely. For the scheme to be of length 4, one of the
points must be doubled in one direction. In P 3 there is a P2 of directions through a
point. Hence the scheme can be represented by a 4-tuple in P 3 × P3 × P3 × P2.
Again, we know that a generic P3 in the space of quadrics through a
scheme of length 4 with support in three points gives rise to a rational
symmetroid. Just as before, we get in entirety a family of dimension 11 + 8 =
19 of rational quartic symmetroids.
58
5.4. Dimensions of Families of Rational Symmetroids
A Larger Family
While we explained why a symmetroid with a line of rank-2-points induces a
web of quadrics with a base locus that is generically four coplanar points, we
had no such justification for base loci of length 4 with support in three points.
We merely studied those after stumbling upon an example with that property.
It is in fact a rather special situation.
For a surface to be double along a line it must contain a line. Suppose that
S := V(F ) is a quartic symmetroid containing the line L := V(x0, x1). Then F
4 3 2 2 2 4
cannot contain any x 2, x 2x3, x 2x 3, x2x 3 or x 3 terms. This is five
conditions, but since dim G(1, 3) = 4, it is only one condition for a quartic to
contain an arbitrary line.
Because S is a symmetroid, then L is a pencil of rank-3-quadrics. A pencil
not containing a single rank-4-quadric must contain at least three rank-2-
quadrics. Hence S has at least three singularities on L. We claim that if S has
four singularities on L, then it must be singular along the whole of L. Let
again L be V(x0, x1). Then F can be written as
2 2
F = x 0F00 + x0x1F01 + x 1F11 + x0F0 + x1F1,
where F00, F01, F11 ∈ C[x0, x1, x2, x3] and F0, F1 ∈ C[x2, x3]. Note that
Sing S ∩ L = V(F0, F1) ∩ L.

Since V(F0 ) and V (F1) are cubics, they contain L if L intersects them in
more than three points, so the claim follows.
Thus to require a quartic symmetroid to be double along a line is the
same as requiring it to contain a line and to have an additional singularity on
that line. As we saw, it is one condition to contain a line. Demanding that the
quartic is singular at a given point imposes four conditions, but since the
symmetroid already passes through the point, it reduces to three extra
conditions. Moreover, the extra node can be anywhere on the line, so it
amounts to just two conditions. We conclude that the quartic symmetroids
with a double line form a family of dimension 24 − 1 − 2 = 21.
We let Macaulay2 compute the singular locus and the rank 2 locus of the
discriminant hypersurface in the P8 of quadrics through a single given point p
∈ P3. The rank 2 locus is a fivefold of degree 10. The singular locus consists
in addition of a linear fivefold X. By Equation (5.2), there is an 18-
dimensional family of linear 3-spaces intersecting X in a line. Since p can be
any point in P3, this totals to a 21-dimensional family of quartic symmetroids
that are double along a line.
59
CHAPTER 6
Degenerated Symmetroids
He who hears the rippling of rivers in

these degenerate days will not utterly
despair.
Henry David Thoreau
A LL the summetroids we have considered thus far are of course degenerate in the
sense that they are not generic. However, here we will take a brief look at surfaces
that are even more special. This includes symmetroids
that are double along a cubic curve, have a triple point or are cones. Lastly,
we discuss our work.
6.1 Symmetroids with No Isolated Singularities

We present here three symmetroids that were discovered in the context of
Section 5.3. Two of them are singular along reducible cubic curves. We start
out with a surface that is singular along two intersecting lines and has a rank-
1-point where they meet. It is a degeneration of the surfaces in Chapter 4,
having no isolated singularities.
In the notation of Section 5.3, let L1 be a line in Π3 passing through the
rank-1-point. The line Π1 ∩ Q ⊂ Π3 meets L1 in a point. Let L2 be a line in T
passing through the rank-1-point and meeting Q. Then a 3-space H
containing L1 and L2 will generically not meet Sing V(det(M)) in any further
points. For instance, the symmetroid X given by
0
x0 0 x0 x2
0 x x1 x0
1 1
x x 0 x x
0 2 1 3
x x 0 x
is double along two lines and has no isolated singularities. It is plotted in

Figure A.5e on page 70.
Next, let L1 ⊂ Π3, L2 ⊂ Π4, L3 ⊂ T be lines passing through the rank-1-
point. The P3 spanned by the Li gives rise to a symmetroid with three double
6. Degenerated Symmetroids
lines. One such symmetroid is given by

0
x0 0 2x0 − x2 x2 .
0 x x1 x0
−
x1 2 0x 2 x x1
0 2 1 3
x x x 0 x
By a change of coordinates we obtain

A := x0 00 −2x2 4x0 + 2x2 ,
x x
0 x 1 0
−
x 1 4x + 2x 2x 6x + 2x + 2x x
x0
2x2 2 0 1
0 0
2x1 2 1 3
−
which has determinant
2 2 2 2 2 2
det(A) = 4 x0x1x2x3 + x 0x 1 + x 0x 2 + x 1x 2 .
We recognise this from Equation (2.1) as the Steiner surface.

Finally, let Π be a plane intersecting Q in a conic. If H is a 3-space
containing Π, then it will generically meet T in a line, so the resulting
symmetroid is double along a conic and a line. The symmetroid defined by
0
x0 0 2x2 − x3 x2
0 x x1 x0
− 0
x1 2 2x 3 x x
0 2 0 3
x x x 0 x
is an example of this. It is shown in Figure A.7 on page 72.
Base Loci
Both the Steiner surface and X are uniquely determined by the base loci of
their webs of quadrics. For each symmetroid, the base locus is a scheme of
length 6. Hence there is a unique web of quadrics passing through it.
The base locus of the Steiner surface consists of three points and a
direction through each. The directions correspond to mutually skew lines,
none of which are contained in the plane spanned by the three points.
For X the base locus also consists of three points and a direction through
each. Again, the directions correspond to mutually skew lines, but one of
them is contained in the plane spanned by the three points.
Cones
As mentioned in Remark 3.1.4, the space of quadrics aTMa degenerates to a
net when the symmetroid is a cone. The arguments in Section 4.3 and
Section 5.1 usually involve a plane Π, in some subset of the P9 of quadrics,
which is extended to a P3. The discriminant of this P3 is then the sought-after
symmetroid. The same type of arguments can be carried out for cones,
except that Π is not extended to a P3.
62
6.2. Quartic Symmetroids with a Triple Point
If Π cuts the rank 2 locus in some points, then the resulting cone has rank
2 in the lines through those points and the apex. This symmetroid has no
other singularities. For instance, the matrix
x0 0 −x0 + x1 − x2 x1
0 x0 −x1 + x2 x0
1
− 1 x+ 2 − 0 +x 1 − 2 x x
x 0 1 1 2
defines a symmetroid that is only singular along a line through the rank-0-
point [0 : 0 : 0 : 1]. It is drawn in Figure A.4e on page 69.
Equation (5.1) gives that the Grassmannian G(2, 9) of planes in P9 has
dimension 21.
6.2 Quartic Symmetroids with a Triple Point

A quartic surface S := V(F ) in P3 with a triple point p is automatically rational.
Indeed, the projection πp : S \ {p} 99K P2 from p is a birational map.
4
If we let p := [1 : 0 : 0 : 0], then p is a triple point for S if F contains no x 0,
3 2
x 0f1 or x 0f2 terms, where f1 , f2 ∈ C[x1 , x2, x3] are polynomials of degree 1
and 2, respectively. Then F can be written as
F = x0F3 + F4,
where F3, F4 ∈ C[x1, x2, x3] are polynomials of degree 3 and 4, respectively.
The surfaces X3 := V(F3) and X4 := V(F4) meet in a curve of degree 12 on S.
Since both X3 and X4 are cones with apex p, the curve breaks up into twelve
concurrent lines.
The lines through p are blown down to points pi via πp. These twelve
points are the intersection of a cubic and a quartic curve, namely
{p1, . . . , p12} = VP2 (F3) ∩ VP2 (F4).
Now S can be represented as the image of the map induced by the linear
system of quartics through the pi. The triple point p has linear equivalence class
P12
3l − i=1 ei.
It is a simple task to find quartic symmetroids with triple points. Assume

that lij ∈ C[x1, x2, x3]1 are linear forms for 0 ≤ i ≤ j ≤ 3. Then the matrix
00l01 0 l
11
l
12
l
13
l l l
l +x 01 02 03
l l l l
02 12 22 23
l l l l
03 13 23 33
defines a symmetroid which is triple in [1 : 0 : 0 : 0]. Clearly p is a rank-1-point.
If S is a symmetroid with p := [1 : 0 : 0 : 0], then
l11 l12 l13
F3 = l12 l22 l23 .
l13 l23 l33

63
6. Degenerated Symmetroids
As explained in Section 1.1, X3 touches S along a sextic curve of genus 3.

Since X3 intersects S in the twelve lines through p, these must coincide in
such a way that the lines through p have even multiplicity.
Consequently, VP2 (F3) is a contact curve for VP2 (F4); their intersection is a
scheme which is two times a scheme of length 6. Consider the special case
where this scheme has support in six points, pi for i = 1, . . . , 6. This occurs when
two and two lines through p coincide. Then pi+6 is a tangent direction through pi
and S have the six nodes ei − ei+6 . It is proved in [Jes16, Article 93] that a quartic
surface with a triple point and six nodes is always a symmetroid.
Recall from Section 5.4 that the quartics in P3 form a P34. To require a
triple point at a given point imposes ten conditions on the quartic, whereas a
double point imposes only four conditions. Allowing the nodes to be any
points in P3 , only imposes 4 − 3 = 1 condition for each. Hence the set of
quartics with a given triple point and six nodes has dimension 34 − 10 − 6 =
18. The dimension is 21 if we allow the triple point to be arbitrary.
6.3 Final Remarks

There are still numerous questions we would like to answer. The long-term
goal is a complete classification of rational quartic symmetroids.
How far away are we from achieving that aim? Are there many symmetroids
that we have not described? We argued in Section 5.4 that the family of quartic
symmetroids that are singular along a line has dimension 21. Under the assump-
tion that the base locus is non-empty, we found a component with the correct
dimension. We have not proved that a double line implies a non-empty base
locus, so it is unclear if we have missed some symmetroids using this procedure.
We demonstrated that symmetroids with rank 2 along a line have generically
four coplanar base points. In addition, symmetroids with rank 2 along a conic
section have generically base loci consisting of four general points. We have no
results on symmetroids with a curve contained in the rank 2 loci, but with non-
generic base loci. Furthermore, we have not examined the possibility of
symmetroids with rank-3-nodes along a conic section.
One important step towards a classification is to determine whether all
quartic surfaces with the same singular locus, say a double line and six
isolated nodes, are symmetroids, or if only a subset of these surfaces has a
symmetric, determinantal representation.
There are issues concerning the number of isolated nodes which remains to
be addressed. Firstly is the verification or disproving of Conjectures 4.4.3 and
4.4.4. Furthermore, does there exist quartic symmetroids that are singular along
a smooth conic section and have only one node in a nondegenerate way
or no isolated nodes? Similarly, can a symmetroid be singular along a single
line and have only one node or no further singularities, in a nondegenerate way?
In our experience, it is more common that a symmetroid with a double line has six
nodes than any other number of isolated nodes. Likewise for symmetroids with a
double conic and four isolated nodes. Are these heuristic results true?
We have not conducted much work on symmetroids that are double along a
cubic curve. The only ones we have seen are the Toeplitz symmetroid in
Example 3.3.2, the Steiner surface and the symmetroid with the double line and
conic. The Toeplitz symmetroid is singular along a twisted cubic curve and
64
6.3. Final Remarks
a line. Its singular locus is the complete intersection of two quadrics, so the
surface is reducible. It is not true in general that a quartic surface which is
double along a twisted cubic is reducible. Indeed, [CW05, Theorem 2.1] provides
3 2 2 3 2 2
256x 0x2 − 256x 0x 1 − 288x0x1x2x3 + 256x 1x3 + 27x 2x 3 =0
as a counterexample. But it is worth investigating if all symmetroids which

are singular along a twisted cubic curve are reducible.
We also desire suitable conditions for the rank 2 locus to be contained in
a quadric surface. This is not the case for the generic symmetroids, but it is
true for the majority of the examples we have given.
65
APPENDIX A
Gallery of Symmetroids
Drawing is the honesty of the art.

There is no possibility of cheating.
It is either good or bad.
Salvador Dalí
H E R E we showcase some of the symmetroids referred to in the text. The

pictures are drawn using the visualising tool surf, developed by Stephan Endraß
[End10]. All the singularities are real and contained in the affine chart used. For some
of the surfaces, in particular Figure A.3a, you may need
to squint in order to spot every singular point.
A.1 Symmetroids Singular along a Line
(a) Eight additional nodes. (b) Seven additional nodes.
Figure A.1: Rational quartic symmetroids singular along a line.

A. Gallery of Symmetroids
(a) The double line is contained in the (b) The double line is not contained in
rank 2 locus. the rank 2 locus.
Figure A.2: Rational quartic symmetroids singular along a line, with six
isolated nodes.
(a) Five additional nodes. (b) Four additional nodes.
68
A.1. Symmetroids Singular along a Line
(a) Three additional nodes, (b) Three additional nodes

no rank-1-points. and a rank-1-point.
(c) Two additional nodes. (d) One additional node.
(e) No additional nodes.
69
A.2 Symmetroids Singular along a Conic
(a) Four additional nodes. The lines meet (b) Three additional nodes.
at infinity.
(e) No additional nodes.
Figure A.5: Rational quartic symmetroids singular along two intersecting lines.
70
A.2. Symmetroids Singular along a Conic
(a) Four additional nodes. (b) Three additional nodes.
Figure A.6: Rational quartic symmetroids singular along a smooth conic section.
71
A.3 Symmetroid Singular along a Reducible Cubic
Figure A.7: Quartic symmetroid singular along a smooth conic section and a
line.
72
APPENDIX B
Code and Computations
Worst-case estimates suggested that trying to compute

Gröbner bases might be a hopeless approach to solving
problems. But from the first prototype, Macaulay was
successful surprisingly often.
Computations in Algebraic Geometry with Macaulay2
T purpose of this appendix is to collect all the code necessary for the
HE
computations mentioned earlier and the unsightly long polynomial output that
otherwise makes for a boring read. The calculations have been per-formed using
Macaulay2, which is a computer algebra system for research in algebraic
geometry, developed by Daniel Grayson and Michael Stillman [M2]. Due to the
limitations of Macaulay2, the calculations have to be done over
Q, so some of the output is reducible.
B.1 Computations for Example 3.3.1

Consider the following snippet:
k = QQ;
_ _
R = k[x 0..x 3];
_ _
P = matrix{{x 3, x 0,
0,
_
x 0},
_ _ _
{x 0, x 3, x 1,
0 },
_ _ _ _
{ 0, x 1, x 3, x 2}, {x 0, 0,
_ _
x 2, x 3}};
pillow = ideal det P
rank2 = saturate minors(3, P)

rank1 = saturate minors(2, P)
sing = saturate ideal singularLocus pillow
degree rank2
codim rank2
B. Code and Computations
minimalPrimes rank2
minimalPrimes sing
associatedPrimes sing
The equation defining the pillow is

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4
det(P ) = x 0x 1 − 2x 0x1x2 + x 0x 2 − 2x 0x 3 − x 1x 3 − x 2x 3 +x 3 = 0.
There are no rank-1-points on the surface. Its rank 2 locus is the one-
dimensional variety of degree 2 given by the ideal
I := (x1 + x2)x3, , ,
2x2 − x2 x ,
2x0 − x3 x3
2
2
2
3 3
x0(x1 + x2)(x1 x2),

< x0x1 − x0x2 + x2x3 >
2 − 2
x0 x1x2 x +x ,
2 −2 2 3 2
where the important observation is that the first generator is a quadric. We

can describe how the quadric relates to the rank 2 locus: The ideal I
decomposes as the intersection of the ideals
hx0, x3i, hx1 − x2, x3i,
2 2 2 2
x0 − x2, x1 + x2, 2x2 − x3 , x0 + x2, x1 + x2, 2x2 − x3 .
In other words, the rank 2 locus is the union of the two lines L1 := V(x0, x3)
and L2 := V(x1 − x2, x3) lying in the plane x3 = 0 and the four points
h
1 : 1 : −1 : ±√2i h
1 : −1 : 1 : ±√2i
in the plane x1 + x2 = 0.
The singular locus consists of the rank 2 locus and five embedded points: The
intersection L1 ∩L2 , the two points [0 : 1 : ±i : 0] ∈ L1 and [1 : ±i : ±i : 0] ∈ L2.
Let us now turn to the variety of singular points on quadrics stemming from
the pillow. The related claims can be verified easily by hand. Take for instance
the corner 1 : 1 : −1 : √ 2. Then P a = 0 reduces to

√ a
a
1 + a3 + 2 0 0
√
a0 + a2 + √ 2 a1 = 0
0
.
a1 − a3
a0
+ √ 2 a2a2 + 2a3
0
−
Adding the first and the third row, and the second and the last row, we find
that the solutions to these equations are described by the ideal
D √ √ E
2a 0 + 2(a1 + a3), 2a1 + 2(a0 + a2) .
We can use Macaulay2 to confirm that the line defined by this ideal does
indeed lie on Q:
74
B.2. Computations for Example 3.3.2
_ _
R1 = k[a 0..a 3];
_ _ _
A = matrix{{a 1 + a 3, 0, 0, a 0},
_ _ _
{ a 0,a 2, 0, a 1},
_ _ _
{0,a 1, a 3, a 2},
_ _ _
{ a 0,0, a 2, a 3}};
f = factor det A
Q = ideal f#2#0
R2 = R1[s] / (s^2 - 2);

- s = sqrt(2)
- Polynomial factorisation is only
- implemented over rational numbers.
i = map(R2, R1, gens R1); -- Inclusion

Q = i(Q);
_ _ _
L = ideal(2*a 0 + s*(a 1 + a 3),
_ _ _
2*a 1 + s*(a 0 + a 2));
L+Q==L

The next lines of code are used to examine the stratification of the Toeplitz
symmetroid.
k = QQ;
_ _
R = k[x 0..x 3];
_ _ _ _
T = matrix{{x 0, x 1, x 2, x 3},
_ _ _ _
{x 1, x 0, x 1, x 2},
_ _ _ _
{x 2, x 1, x 0, x 1},
_ _ _ _
{x 3, x 2, x 1, x 0}};
f = factor det T
C1 = ideal f#0#0
C2 = ideal f#1#0
S1 = saturate ideal singularLocus C1

S2 = saturate ideal singularLocus C2
rank2 = saturate minors(3, T)

rank1 = saturate minors(2, T)
MP = minimalPrimes rank2
75
_ _
rank1 == MP 0 + MP 1
rank1 == intersect(S1, S2)
The determinant det T factors as the product of the quadratic forms
2 2 2
−x 0 − x0x1 + x 1 + 2x1x2 + x 2 − x0x3 − x1x3
and
2 2 2
−x 0 + x0x1 + x 1 − 2x1x2 + x 2 + x0x3 − x1x3.
Denote the cones these forms define by C1 and C2. The Ci have apices in
the points [1 : −1 : 1 : −1] and [1 : 1 : 1 : 1], respectively. These two points
constitute the rank 1 locus of the Toeplitz symmetroid.
The rank 2 locus is not contained in any quadric; its ideal is generated by
six cubics. It decomposes as the intersection of the ideals
2 2 2 2
x 0 − 2x 1 + x0x2, x0x1 − 2x1x2 + x0x3, x 0 − x0x2 − 2x 2 + 2x1x3
and
hx0 − x2, x1 − x3i.
The twisted cubic and the line defined by these intersect precisely in the two
rank-1-points.

Put P1 := [1 : 0 : 0], P3 := [0 : 1 : 0] and P5 := [0 : 0 : 1]. The requirement that
a cubic V(f) passes through these three points amounts to there being no
3 3 3
x 0, x 1 or x 2 terms in f. Furthermore, the lines P1P5 and P3P5 are V(x1) and
V(x0), respectively. Thus, for V(f) to have these as tangent lines at P1 and P3,
we must have
∂f
(P ) = ∂f (P ) = ∂f (P ) = ∂f (P ) = 0.
1 1 2 2
∂x0 ∂x2 ∂x1 ∂x2
Therefore, there cannot be any x20x2 or x21x2 terms in f either. Hence a cubic
in this linear system is on the form
2 2 2 2
f(x0, x1, x2) = a210x 0x1 + a120x0x 1 + a111x0x1x2 + a102x0x 2 + a012x1x 2.
2 2 2 2
We use the obvious basis {x 0x1, x0x 1, x0x1x2, x0x 2, x1x 2}. The rest we
leave to Macaulay2:
k = QQ;
_ _
P2 = k[x 0..x 2];
_ _
P4 = k[y 0..y 4];
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
f = map(P2, P4, {x 0^2*x 1, x 0*x 1^2, x 0*x 1*x 2,
_ _ _ _
x 0*x 2^2, x 1*x 2^2});
DelPezzo = ker f
minimalPrimes ideal singularLocus DelPezzo
76

We start with the 4-nodal del Pezzo surface from Appendix B.3.
k = QQ;
_ _
P2 = k[x 0..x 2];
_ _
P3 = k[y 0..y 3];
_ _
P4 = k[z 0..z 4];
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
f = map(P2, P4, {x 0^2*x 1, x 0*x 1^2, x 0*x 1*x 2,
_ _ _ _
x 0*x 2^2, x 1*x 2^2});
S = ker f -- Del Pezzo Surface.
minimalPrimes ideal singularLocus S
Then we compute the strict transform of a line passing through P5, and the
strict transform of a conic that meets all the Pi except P5 . These strict
transforms are two conics, C1 and C2, that do not meet any of the nodes on
the surface. Also, C1 and C2 intersect in two points, which span a line L. In
this case, L = V(x3 + x4, x1 + x4, x0 − x4) and we let the projection centre p be
the point [1 : −1 : 0 : −1 : 1], which we verify is not on the surface.
- Conics that avoid the singularities:
_ _
C1 = preimage(f, ideal(x 0 + x 1));
_ _ _
C2 = preimage(f, ideal(x 0*x 1 + x 2^2));
- Find the line spanned by their intersection points. L = trim(C1 +
C2);
_ _ _
L = ideal(L 0, L 1, L 2)
- Take the projection centre p to be a point on this line.
- p = [1 : -1 : 0 : -1 : 1]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Ip = ideal(z 1 + z 0, z 2, z 3 + z 0, z 4 - z 0);
Ip + L == Ip -- p is on L
Ip + S == Ip -- p is not on the del Pezzo
Under the projection, a point q on the del Pezzo surface S is mapped to the
unique intersection point between the line pq and the P3. Consider the union
of all lines from p to a point on S. This is a cone C over S with apex in p. The
image of the projection is C ∩ P3. Because the del Pezzo surface is a
quartic, p is a quadruple point on C. Thus, the equation of C is given by the
unique quartic contained in the ideal
4
I := Ip ∩ IDelPezzo.
This explains why we did not use [0 : 0 : 1 : 0 : 0] for p; one of the quadrics in
the pencil has apex in [0 : 0 : 1 : 0 : 0], in which case I contains ten quartics,
rather than just one. Not to mention that [0 : 0 : 1 : 0 : 0] is not contained in
the P3 spanned by the nodes. However, it is of minor importance whether
their projected images are coplanar or not.
77
We use V(x4) as the linear hyperspace.
C = trim intersect (Ip^4, S); -- Cone with apex in p.

degrees C -- Check number of quartics.
_
- Intersect with the hyperplane V(z 4): i =
map(P3, P4, gens P3 | {0});
_
X = i(ideal(C 0)) -- Projected del Pezzo Surface.
First, we make sure that the singular locus of the projected del Pezzo
surface does indeed consist of two lines, L1 and L2, and four points.
Next, there are embedded points in the singular locus: The intersection
L1 ∩ L2 and two other points on each Li. We pull the latter back to P4 and find
that the preimages of the two embedded points on Li span a line L0i in the
plane spanned by the conic Ci. The line L0i is tangent to Ci.
sing = ideal singularLocus X;
minimalPrimes sing
- Confirm that the embedded points are

- ramification points for the projection: AP =
associatedPrimes sing
_
L1 = preimage(i, AP 3)
_
L2 = preimage(i, AP 2)
_ _ _
L1 = ideal(L1 0, L1 1, L1 2) L2 =
_ _ _
ideal(L2 0, L2 1, L2 2)
minimalPrimes (L1 + C1)
minimalPrimes (L2 + C2)
Since X has a node in [1 : 0 : 0 : 0], its defining equation is of the form

2
f = ax 0+bx0+c, where a, b, c ∈ Q[x1, x2, x3]. When projecting from [1 : 0 :
0 : 0] to V(x0), the branch curve is given by the discriminant b2 − 4ac.
- Trick in order to use the function ’coefficients’:
_ _ _
R1 = k[y 1..y 3][y 0];
X = sub(X, R1);
_
(Mon, Coeff) = coefficients(X 0,
_ _
Monomials => {y 0^2, y 0, 1});
X = sub(X, P3);
_
a = sub(Coeff (0, 0), P3);
_
b = sub(Coeff (1, 0), P3);
_
c = sub(Coeff (2, 0), P3);
use P3;
branch = factor(b^2 - 4*a*c)
78
The built-in method adjoint does not give us what we want, so we copy the
correct definition from [Eis+02].
classicalAdjoint = (G) -> (
n := degree target G;
m := degree source G;
matrix table(n, n, (i, j) -> (-1)^(i + j) * det( submatrix(G, {0..j -
1, j + 1..n - 1},
{0..i - 1, i + 1..m - 1}))));
Then we just follow Algorithm 1.1.4 and check that matrix we end up with
has the desired determinant.
F11 = branch#0#0 * branch#2#0 / 4;
F22 = branch#0#0 * branch#1#0^2;
q = -a;
g = b/2;
delta = c;
I = ideal(F11, delta);
RI = radical I;
- Check that the space of cubics is 4-dimensional: degrees RI
F11*F22 - g^2 == q*delta
F12 = g;
_
F13 = RI 0;
_
F14 = RI 3;
- Check that the Fij are independent: degrees
trim ideal(F11, F12, F13, F14)
_
F23 = (F12*F13 // gens I) (0,0);
_
F24 = (F12*F14 // gens I) (0,0);
_
F33 = (F13*F13 // gens I) (0,0);
_
F34 = (F13*F14 // gens I) (0,0);
_
F44 = (F14*F14 // gens I) (0,0);
F = matrix{{F11, F12, F13, F14},
{F12, F22, F23, F24},
{F13, F23, F33, F34},
{F14, F24, F34, F44}};
M = classicalAdjoint(F) // delta^2;
cc = det F // delta^3;
79
_
N = matrix{{ 0, cc*y 0, 0, 0},
_
{cc*y 0, 0, 0, 0},
{ 0, 0, 0, 0},
{ 0, 0, 0, 0}};
A=M+N
_
det A / X 0
Next, we find the variety of the singular loci of the quadrics aTAa. This is
straightforward: Look at the product Aa and create the corresponding matrix
M called B in the code, since M is already in use of the coefficients to the
variables ai, such that Aa = Mx. Then det(M) = 0 is the desired variety. It
turns out to be the union of a plane and a 3-nodal cubic.
- Trick in order to use the function ’coefficients’:
_ _ _ _
R2 = k[w 0..w 3][y 0..y 3];
A = sub(A, R2);
_ _ _ _
W = matrix{{w 0}, {w 1}, {w 2}, {w 3}};
P = A*W;
(M0, C0) = coefficients(P^{0},

_ _ _ _
Monomials => {y 0, y 1, y 2, y 3}); (M1,
C1) = coefficients(P^{1},
_ _ _ _
Monomials => {y 0, y 1, y 2, y 3}); (M2,
_ _ _ _
Monomials => {y 0, y 1, y 2, y 3}); (M3,
_ _ _ _
Monomials => {y 0, y 1, y 2, y 3});
_ _ _ _ _ _
B = matrix{{C0 (0,0), C0 (1, 0), C0 (2, 0), C0 (3,0)}, {C1 (0,0), C1 (1, 0),
_ _ _ _ _
C1 (2, 0), C1 (3,0)}, {C2 (0,0), C2 (1, 0), C2 (2, 0),
_ _ _ _ _
C2 (3,0)}, {C3 (0,0), C3 (1, 0), C3 (2, 0), C3 (3,0)}}
_ _
R3 = k[w 0..w 3];
g = factor sub(det B, R3)
minimalPrimes ideal singularLocus ideal g#1#0
The base locus of the web of quadrics aTAa, equals the common intersection
of four generating quadrics. To find four such quadrics, take aTA(Pi)a for four
points Pi that span P3. In this case, the base locus consists of six points,
counted with multiplicity. More precisely, it contains five points where one of
the points is counted twice.
80
- General quadratic form: Q =

_
(transpose(W)*P) (0, 0)
_ _ _ _
R4 = k[w 0..w 3,y 0..y 3];
Q = sub(Q, R4)
-- Generators for the base locus:

_ _ _ _
Q0 = sub(Q, {y 0 => 1, y 1 => 0, y 2 => 0, y 3 => 0});
_ _ _ _
Q1 = sub(Q, {y 0 => 0, y 1 => 1, y 2 => 0, y 3 => 0});
_ _ _ _
Q2 = sub(Q, {y 0 => 0, y 1 => 0, y 2 => 1, y 3 => 0});
_ _ _ _
Q3 = sub(Q, {y 0 => 0, y 1 => 0, y 2 => 0, y 3 => 1});
base = ideal(Q0, Q1, Q2, Q3);

degree base
minimalPrimes base
primaryDecomposition base
For the points P in the base locus, we find the set of points [QP ] such that
the quadrics QP are singular at P .
- The function ’singularLocus’ differentiates with respect

_
- to y i as well, hence we have to do it manually.
_
d0 = diff(w 0, Q);
_
d1 = diff(w 1, Q);
_
d2 = diff(w 2, Q);
_
d3 = diff(w 3, Q);
dQ = ideal(d0, d1, d2, d3);
_ _ _ _
saturate sub(dQ, {w 0 => 1, w 1 => 0, w 2 => 0, w 3 => 0})
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _
saturate sub(dQ, {w 0 => 0, w 2 => 0, w 3 => 2})

We use the same points as in Appendix B.3, albeit we must swap the names of
P1 and P3 in order to be consistent with Example 4.2.4. Again, we can have no
3 3 3 2 2
terms of the forms x 0, x 1, x 2 or x 1x2, but x 0x2 terms are allowed.
The cubics must have the same tangent at P3, and the tangent line must
be different from P3P5. We choose the line V(x1 − x2) and let
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
x 0x1 + x 0x2, x 0x1 + x 0x2 + x1x 2, x 0x1 + x 0x2 + x0x1x2,
2 2 2 2 2 2
x 0x1 + x 0x2 + x0x 2, x 0x1 + x 0x2 + x0x 1
be the basis for cubics passing through the Pi. Using this, we find the del Pezzo
81
surface with ideal

2
hx x + x x − 3x − x x + 2x x + x x − x x ,
02 12 2 13 23 24 34
It has nodes in [1 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 0], [0 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 1] and [1 : 1 : 1 : 1 : 1].
k = QQ;
_ _
P2 = k[x 0..x 2];
_ _
P4 = k[y 0..y 4];
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
f = map(P2, P4, {x 0^2*x 1 + x 0^2*x 2 + x 1*x 2^2, x 0^2*x 1 +
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
x 0^2*x 2 + x 0*x 1*x 2, x 0^2*x 1 +
_ _
x 0^2*x 2,
_ _ _ _ _ _
x 0^2*x 1 + x 0^2*x 2 + x 0*x 2^2,
_ _ _ _ _ _
x 0^2*x 1 + x 0^2*x 2 + x 0*x 1^2});
DelPezzo = ker f

We choose the points P1 := [0 : 0 : 1], P2 := [0 : 1 : 0] and P3 := [0 : 1 : −1]
on the line V(x0). On the line V(x1) through P1, we pick P4 := [1 : 0 : 0] and
P5 := [1 : 0 : −1]. Macaulay2 produces the basis
2 2 2 2 2 2
x 0x1, x0x 1, x0x1x2, x 1x2 + x1x 2, x 0x2 + x0x 2
of cubics through the Pi. The resulting del Pezzo surface in P4 has ideal
2 2
x1x3 + x 3 − x2x4, x0x1 − x2x3 − x 3 .
It has nodes in [1 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 0] and [0 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 1].
k = QQ;
_ _
P2 = k[x 0..x 2];
_ _
P4 = k[y 0..y 4];
_ _
I1 = ideal(x 0, x 1); -- [0 : 0 : 1]
_ _
I2 = ideal(x 0, x 2); -- [0 : 1 : 0]
_ _ _
I3 = ideal(x 0, x 1 + x 2); -- [0 : 1 : -1]
_ _
I4 = ideal(x 1, x 2); -- [1 : 0 : 0]
_ _ _
I5 = ideal(x 1, x 0 + x 2); -- [1 : 0 : -1]
I = intersect(I1, I2, I3, I4, I5)
- The generators are listed in this order such that

- one node gets coodinates [1 : 0 : 0 : 0 : 0].
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
f = map(P2, P4, {I 1, I 0*x 0, I 0*x 1, I 0*x 2, I 2});
82
B.7. Computations for Section 4.3
DelPezzo = saturate ker f
B.7 Computations for Section 4.3

This is a straightforward factorisation into components and then examination
of their intersections.
k = QQ;
_ _
R = k[x 0..x 5];
_ _ _
M = matrix{{ 0, x 0, x 1, x 2},
_ _ _
{x 0, 0, x 3, x 4},
_ _ _
{x 1, x 3, 0, x 5},
_ _ _
{x 2, x 4, x 5, 0 }}
rank2 = saturate minors(3, M);

sing = saturate ideal singularLocus ideal det M;
dim rank2
degree rank2
dim sing
degree sing
MP = minimalPrimes rank2
mp = minimalPrimes sing
_
Pi1 = MP 0;
_
Pi2 = MP 2;
_
Pi3 = MP 3;
_
Pi4 = MP 5;
_
Pi5 = mp 0;
_
Pi6 = mp 4;
_
Pi7 = mp 6;
_
Pi8 = mp 7;
_
Q1 = MP 1;
_
Q2 = MP 4;
_
Q3 = MP 6;
saturate(Pi1 + Pi2)
saturate(Pi1 + Pi3)
saturate(Pi1 + Pi4)
saturate(Pi2 + Pi3)
saturate(Pi2 + Pi4)
saturate(Pi3 + Pi4)
83
minimalPrimes(Q1 + Q2)
saturate(Pi1 + Q1)
saturate(Pi1 + Q2)
saturate(Pi1 + Q3)
saturate(Pi2 + Q1)
saturate(Pi2 + Q2)
saturate(Pi2 + Q3)
saturate(Pi3 + Q1)
saturate(Pi3 + Q2)
saturate(Pi3 + Q3)
saturate(Pi4 + Q1)
saturate(Pi4 + Q2)
saturate(Pi4 + Q3)
saturate(Pi5 + Pi1)
saturate(Pi5 + Pi2)
saturate(Pi5 + Pi3)
saturate(Pi5 + Pi4)
saturate(Pi6 + Pi1)
saturate(Pi6 + Pi2)
saturate(Pi6 + Pi3)
saturate(Pi6 + Pi4)
saturate(Pi7 + Pi1)
saturate(Pi7 + Pi2)
saturate(Pi7 + Pi3)
saturate(Pi7 + Pi4)
saturate(Pi8 + Pi1)
saturate(Pi8 + Pi2)
saturate(Pi8 + Pi3)
saturate(Pi8 + Pi4)

We let P1 := [0 : 0 : 1], P2 := [1 : 0 : 0] P4 := [0 : 1 : 0] and P6 := [1 : 1 : 1]. So
we want the quartics to have V(x1 ), V(x0) and V(x0 − x1 ) as their tangent
lines at P2 , P4 and P6, respectively. Lastly, we put P 8 := [1 : −1 : 2] and P9 :=
[2 : 1 : −1]. We used Matlab to find a basis for the quartics that pass through
these points with the correct tangent lines and a singularity at P1:
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
6x x x − 5x x + 3x x x + 2x x − 6x x x ,
012 02 012 12 012
2 2 2 2 2 2 3
48x x x + 55x x + 3x x x − 82x x − 24x x ,
012 02 012 12 01
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
48x x x + 73x x − 3x x x − 94x x − 24x x ,
012 02 012 12 01
2 2 2 2 2 2 3
48x0x 1x2 + 103x 0x 2 + 3x0x1x 2 − 130x 1x 2 − 24x 0x1.
We use this basis to define the ring map f associated to the map ϕ induced
by the linear system:
84
k = QQ;
_ _
P2 = k[x 0..x 2];
_ _
P3 = k[y 0..y 3];
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
q1 = 6*x 0*x 1^2*x 2 - 5*x 0^2*x 2^2 + 3*x 0*x 1*x 2^2 +
_ _ _ _ _
2*x 1^2*x 2^2 - 6*x 0^2*x 1*x 2;
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
q2 = 48*x 0*x 1^2*x 2 + 55*x 0^2*x 2^2 + 3*x 0*x 1*x 2^2 -
_ _ _ _
82*x 1^2*x 2^2 - 24*x 0*x 1^3;
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
q3 = 48*x 0*x 1^2*x 2 + 73*x 0^2*x 2^2 - 3*x 0*x 1*x 2^2 -
_ _ _ _
94*x 1^2*x 2^2 - 24*x 0^2*x 1^2;
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
q4 = 48*x 0*x 1^2*x 2 + 103*x 0^2*x 2^2 + 3*x 0*x 1*x 2^2 -
_ _ _ _
130*x 1^2*x 2^2 - 24*x 0^3*x 1;
f = map(P2, P3, {q1, q2, q3, q4});
S = ker f
The result is a surface S with the equation

4 3 3 3 2 2 2
41472x 0 − 2016x 0x1 − 34848x 0x2 + 31680x 0x3 − 13444x 0x 1 + 18550x 0x1x2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
+ 2110x 0x1x3 − 1252x 0x 2 − 13310x 0x2x3 + 6050x 0x 3 − 1752x0x 1x2
2 2 2
+ 368x0x 1x3 + 4456x0x1x 2 − 3292x0x1x2x3 + 1100x0x1x 3
2 3 3 2 2 2
+ 220x0x 2x3 − 1100x0x 2 − 219x1x 2 + 219x 1x2x3 − 169x 1x 3
2 2 4 3
− 46x1x 2x3 + 165x1x2x 3 + 215x 2 − 165x 2x3.
We are able to use f to relate three of the nodes to the linear system right away:
The ideal f(node) is contained in the ideal of one the lines P1P2, P1P4, P1P6.
MP = minimalPrimes ideal singularLocus S;
- See which singularities we can identify:

_
minimalPrimes f(MP 1)
_
minimalPrimes f(MP 2)
_ _ _ _
minimalPrimes f(MP 3) -- l - e 1 - e 6 - e 7 minimalPrimes
_ _ _ _ _
f(MP 4) -- l - e 1 - e 2 - e 3 minimalPrimes f(MP 5)
_ _ _ _
minimalPrimes f(MP 6) -- l - e 1 - e 4 - e 5
We then apply Algorithm 1.1.4 to obtain a matrix representation of S. An
implementation of the algorithm is given in Appendix B.4. The output is a
symmetric matrix with so large entries that we will not present it here. We
remove the first column and consider the curve C determined by the (3 × 3)-
minors of the remaining submatrix.
_
C = minors(3, M {1, 2, 3});
mp = minimalPrimes C;
apply(mp, i -> degree i) -- 4, 1, 1
It consists of a quartic and two lines. One of the lines is immediately

identified as the reduced line associated to B:
85
- Check that the reduced line

_
- associated to B is a component: mp 1
_
== MP 0 -- True
The quartic is identified with a plane cubic. It is singular at P2. We check
which points it passes through.
_ _
cubic = (minimalPrimes f(mp 0)) 0
saturate ideal singularLocus cubic -- p2

_ _
p1 = ideal(x 0, x 1); --[0: 0 : 1]
_ _
p2 = ideal(x 1, x 2); --[1: 0 : 0]
_ _
p4 = ideal(x 0, x 2); --[0: 1 : 0]
_ _ _ _
p6 = ideal(x 0 - x 1, x 0 - x 2); --[1: 1 : 1]
_ _ _ _
p8 = ideal(x 0 + x 1, 2*x 0 - x 2); --[1:-1 : 2]
_ _ _ _
p9 = ideal(x 0 - 2*x 1, x 1 + x 2) --[2: 1 : -1]
cubic + p1 == p1 -- True
It passes through all of them. We then check if it has some of the tangent
lines corresponding to P3, P5 or P7.
_ _
dx0 = diff(x 0, cubic 0);
_ _
_ _
_ _ _
sub(dx0, {x 0 => 1, x 1 => 0, x 2 => 0})
_ _ _
sub(dx1, {x 0 => 1, x 1 => 0, x 2 => 0})
_ _ _
sub(dx2, {x 0 => 1, x 1 => 0, x 2 => 0})
_ _ _
sub(dx0, {x 0 => 0, x 1 => 1, x 2 => 0})
_ _ _
sub(dx1, {x 0 => 0, x 1 => 1, x 2 => 0})
_ _ _
sub(dx2, {x 0 => 0, x 1 => 1, x 2 => 0})
_ _ _
sub(dx0, {x 0 => 1, x 1 => 1, x 2 => 1})
_ _ _
sub(dx1, {x 0 => 1, x 1 => 1, x 2 => 1})
_ _ _
sub(dx2, {x 0 => 1, x 1 => 1, x 2 => 1})
It does not, so we conclude that the quartic is 3l − e1 − 2e2 − e4 − e6 − e8 − e9.
This curve is singular at e2 − e3, so we can relate another node to the linear
system.
86
_ _ _
saturate ideal singularLocus mp 0 -- e 2 - e 3
_ _ _ _
saturate(mp 2 + mp 0) -- e 2 - e 3
_ _ _
mp 2 + MP 4 == MP 4 -- True
The last component in C passes through both e2 − e3 and l − e1 − e2 − e3.
We deduce that the line is e2.

We let the conic K be V(x0x1 − x22). Let P2 := [1 : 0 : 0], P4 := [0 : 1 : 0] and
P6 := [1 : 1 : 1]. The tangent lines to K at P2, P4 and P6 are V(x1), V(x0) and
V(x0 + x1 − 2x2), respectively. That means that P1 is [0 : 0 : 1]. Finally, put
P8 := [1 : −1 : 2] and P9 := [1 : −1 : 3]. We found the following basis of
quartics passing through the Pi using Matlab:
3 3 2 2 2
19x 0x1 + 5x0x 1 − 20x 0x1x2 − 4x 0x 2,
3 2 2 2 2 2 2
7x x − 5x x − 5x x x + 5x x x − 2x x ,
01 01 012 012 02
3 2 2 2 2 2
24x 0x1 − 20x 0x1x2 − 9x 0x 2 + 5x 1x 2.
We use this to define the ring map induced by the linear system:
k = QQ;
_ _
P2 = k[x 0..x 2];
_ _
P3 = k[y 0..y 3];
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
q1 = 19*x 0^3*x 1 - 20*x 0^2*x 1*x 2 - 4*x 0^2*x 2^2 +
_ _
5*x 0*x 1^3;
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
q2 = 7*x 0^3*x 1 - 5*x 0^2*x 1^2 - 5*x 0^2*x 1*x 2 -
_ _ _ _ _
2*x 0^2*x 2^2 + 5*x 0*x 1^2*x 2;
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
q3 = x 0^3*x 1 + x 0^2*x 1^2 - x 0^2*x 2^2 - x 0*x 1*x 2^2;
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
q4 = 24*x 0^3*x 1 - 20*x 0^2*x 1*x 2 - 9*x 0^2*x 2^2 +
_ _
5*x 1^2*x 2^2;
f = map(P2, P3, {q1, q2, q3, q4});
S = ker f
We obtain the surface S with defining polynomial

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
x 0x 1 + 10x 0x1x2 + 25x 0x 2 − 5x 0x2x3 + 20x0x 1x2 − 2x0x 1x3 − 20x0x1x 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
− 10x0x1x2x3 − 25x0x 2x3 + 5x0x2x 3 + 300x 1x 2 − 20x 1x2x3 + x 1x 3
3 2 4 3
+ 100x1x 2 − 80x1x 2x3 − 400x 2 + 100x 2x3.
Applying Algorithm 1.1.4 as in Appendix B.4, we obtain the matrix
M(x) := M0x0 + M1x1 + M2x2 + M3x3,
87
where
16 800 200 100
M0 := −800 −60000 −15000 −5000,
200 15000 2500 1250
− − −
100 − 5000 − 1250 − 625
32 1600 400 0
−
M1 := 1600
0
−120000 −20000
− 0 − 0
0,
1250
400 20000 5000 0
240 3200 1000 500

−
M2 := 3200 120000
1000 10000
10000 12500
5000,
6250
500 5000 6250 − 3125

0 40000
400 0 0 0
.
M3 := 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
We remove the first column of M. Then we verify that the reduced line
associated to B is not a component in the curve C defined by the (3 × 3)-
minors of this (4 × 3)-matrix.
_
C = saturate minors(3, M {1, 2, 3});
MP = minimalPrimes ideal singularLocus S
_ _
MP 2 + C == MP 2 -- False
88
APPENDIX C
Rational Double Points
Put thyself into the trick of singularity.
William Shakespeare
D YNKIN diagrams crop up in many areas of mathematics. This appendix is dedicated

to explaining the connection between simply laced Dynkin diagrams those with no
multiple edges and rational double points,
and thereby making sense of the symbols An, Dn and En used in the thesis.
C.1 ADE Singularities

The collection of simply laced Dynkin diagrams is called the ADE
classification. The complete list, comprised of two families and three
exceptional diagrams, is given in Table C.1.
A
n
Dn (n ≥ 4)
E6
E7
E8
Table C.1: ADE classification. The requirement n ≥ 4 for Dn is put in to avoid

∼
redundancy, as D3 = A3.
P
Definition C.1.1. An ADE curve is an exceptional divisor C := Ci, where
each irreducible component Ci is a (−2)-curve. Moreover, Ci · Cj ≤ 1 for all i
=6 j, that is, two components intersect in at most one point and then
transversally. ♠ The ADE curves are named so
because their dual graphs the graphs constructed by representing Ci with a
node, and the intersection between Ci
C. Rational Double Points
and Cj with an edge connecting their corresponding nodes are the Dynkin
diagrams above. The An curves also go under the alias Hirzebruch-Jung strings.
Definition C.1.2. Let X and Y be normal surfaces and assume that X is
nonsingular. A curve C on X is said to be exceptional if there is a birational
map π : X → Y such that C is exceptional for π . This means that there is a
neighbourhood U ⊂ X of C, a point y ∈ Y and a neighbourhood V ⊂ Y of y,
such that π(C) = y and π gives an isomorphism of X \ U onto Y \ V . This
situation is expressed by saying C contracts to y. ♠ Definition C.1.3. Let X
and Y be normal and irreducible surfaces. Assume further that X is smooth.
Suppose that C ⊂ X is the exceptional curve con-
tracting to the singularity y ∈ Y under the proper, birational map π : 1→ .
X Y
Then y is called a rational singularity if the first higher direct image R π∗OX
vanish. ♠
Proposition C.1.4 ([Bar+04, III, Proposition 3.4]). The ADE curves contract
to rational singularities.
Suppose that C := P Ci is an exceptional curve, and that U ⊂ X is a
neighbourhood of C with ωU = OU . In particular, such a neighbourhood
always exists for an ADE curve [Bar+04, III, Proposition 3.5]. An effective
divisor D on U is the principal divisor (f) of a rational function f on U , if and
only if D · Ci = 0 for all i. Any effective divisor D can be written on the form D
= Z + P Uj, where Z := P riCi has support on C and each Uj intersects C in at
most finitely many points.
P
Proposition C.1.5 ([Bar+04, III, Proposition 3.7]). The divisors Z := riC i,
where ri ≥ 0, satisfying
Z · Ci ≤ 0 (C.1)
for all i, are exactly the parts contained in C of divisors of rational functions
defined on some neighbourhood of C.
Let (f), (f0) be two principal divisors with corresponding parts Z := riC i
and Z0 := ri0Ci in C. Then for α, α0 ∈ C \ {0}, the part of (αf + α
P0
0) in
f
P
C is min{ri, ri0}Ci. Thus there is a minimal effective divisor satisfying (C.1) all i, which is called the fundamental cycle of C or of the singularity C
for P
contracts to.
Table C.2 on the next page indicates the coefficients for the fundamental
cycles of the ADE curves.
An immediate consequence is:
Proposition C.1.6 ([Bar+04, III, Proposition 3.9]). For the fundamental cycle
Z of an exceptional ADE curve, we have
2
Z = −2.
Definition C.1.7. The multiplicity of the maximal ideal m in a local ring R of
dimension d, is (d − 1)! times the leading coefficient of the Hilbert–Samuel
polynomial of R. The multiplicity of a variety X at a point p ∈ X is defined to
be the multiplicity of the maximal ideal m in the local ring OX,p. ♠
90
C.1. ADE Singularities
11111
An
1 2 2 2 1
Dn (n ≥ 4)
2
1 23 21
E6
2
2 34 32 1
E7
3
2 46 54 3 2
E8
Table C.2: Fundamental cycles for ADE curves.
Artin showed in [Art66] that if X is the spectrum of a two-dimensional

local ring and p ∈ X is a rational singularity with fundamental cycle Z, then
the multiplicity at p equals −(Z2). Hence Proposition C.1.6 implies that ADE
curves contract to rational double points. This provides a converse to du
Val’s result in [Val34], that the resolution of an isolated double point on an
embedded surface is an ADE curve.
In light of this, we denominate rational double points according to the
ADE classification of their exceptional curves. Rational double points are
known in the literature as du Val singularities, simple surface singularities
and Kleinian singularities.
Example C.1.8 ( E6 singularity). We shall construct an ADE curve by se-
quentially blowing up P2 in six points. Set X0 := P2 and let Pi be a point in Xi−1.
Denote the blow-up of Xi−1 with centre Pi by πi : Xi → Xi−1, and take Ei to be
the exceptional line πi−1(Pi). Consider these steps:
(i) Let L be a line in P2 and P1 any point on L.
(ii) Let P2 be the intersection of E1 and L − E1, where L − E1 is the strict

transform of L under π1. Put C1 := E1 − E2.
(iii) Let P3 be the intersection of E2 and L − E1 − E2. Put C2 := E2 − E3 and C3
:=L−E1−E2−E3.
(iv) Let P4 be any point on E3 that is not on C2 or C3. Put C4 := E3 − E4.
(v) Let P5 be any point on E4 that is not on C4. Put C5 := E4 − E5.
(vi) Let P6 be any point on E5 that is not on C5. Put C6 := E5 − E6.
91
C. Rational Double Points
Each Ci is irreducible with self-intersection Ci2 = −2. Moreover, they fit

together in the following dual graph:
C3
C1 C2 C4 C5 C6
This means that
C :=C1+C2+C3+C4+C5+C6 =L−E2−E3−E6
is an E6 curve.
We know from Proposition C.1.4 that C contracts to a single point. We
6 → P2 be the composition π1 ◦ · · · ◦ π6 and d the linear
system of plane cubic curves with assigned base points P1, . . . , P6. Suppose D ∈ d, then we have a
canseethisexplicitly.Letπ:X
corresponding linear system d0 on X6 given by
0 ∗
d := |π (D) − E1 − · · · − E6|.
6 → X, where
Notethatd0isbase-pointfree,soitgivesrisetoamorphismX
X is a cubic surface in P3. We claim that this morphism maps C to a point.
Let l denote the linear equivalence class of π∗(L) and ei the classes of Ei.
By abuse of notation, identify divisors on X6 with their image in X. Recall that
6
a hyperplane section h of X is in the linear equivalence class 3l − P i=1 ei.
The intersection number of C and h is then
!
C · h = (l − e2 − e3 − e6) · 3l − 6 ei
X
i=1
2 2 2 2
= 3l + e + e + e
2 3 6
=3−1−1−1
= 0.
Since the image of C in X does not meet a general hyperplane section, it must
be a point. In other words, it is an E6 singularity. ♥
92
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95
Glossary of Symbols
Rp Ramification locus for projection from the node p, page 3

F
11 Cubic in Rp, page 4
F
22 Cubic in Rp, page 4
Δ Ternary quartic such that f = −qx20 + 2gx0 + Δ, page 4
π∗ Pullback, page 94
l Linear equivalence class of π∗ of a line in P2, page 27
Ei Exceptional divisor over point Pi, page 27
ei Linear equivalence class of exceptional divisor Ei, page 27
Pi Pj Pi is a point on the exceptional divisor over Pj, page 27
D·D0 Intersection number of divisors D and D0, page 28

ρa(D) Arithmetic genus of divisor D, page 54
[f] Point corresponding to the quadric f, page 18
d Linear system, page 19
Bl(d) Base locus of d, page 19
G(k, n) Grassmannian of k-dimensional, linear subspaces of Pn, page 11
νd Veronese map of degree d, page 9
Φ Span of subsetes , Φ ⊆ Pn, page 11

∨
(Pn) Dual projective space, page 14
∗
X Dual variety of X, page 14
⊥
X Orthogonal subspace to X, page 15
deg(X) Degree of the variety X, page 10
Sec(X) Secant variety of the variety X, page 12
Tan(X) Tangential variety of the variety X, page 18
F
n The n-th Hirzebruch surface, page 25
Index
ADE Nondegenerate variety, 25

classification, 89
curve, 89 Orthogonal subspace, 15
Bertini’s theorem, 10 Pillow, 20, 25, 73

Bézout’s theorem, 10 Plücker’s surface, 54
Blow-up, 2, 3, 27, 33, 36, 76, 81,
82, 91 Ramification locus, 3
Rank k locus, 2
Contact curve, 5 Rank-k-point, 2
Contract a curve, 28, 33, 36, 90 Rational, see also symmetroid
normal curve, 9
Deficient, see secant
singularity, 90
Del Pezzo surface, 25 – 44, 76,
81, 82
Secant
Discriminant hypersurface,
deficient variety, 12, 18
18 Du Val singularities, 91
line, 12
Dual
line map, 11
graph, 89
variety, 12
projective space, 14
Segre
variety, 14
surface, 25
Dynkin diagram, 89
symbol, 36, 43
Exceptional curve, 90 Simple surface singularities, 91
Span, 11
Fundamental cycle, 90 Spectrahedron, 1
Steiner surface, 11, 62
Generically transversal Symmetroid, 1
intersection, 10 quartic, 1
Grassmannian, 11 rational, 2, 26, 53
transversal, 2
Hirzebruch surfaces, 25
with a double conic
Hirzebruch-Jung strings, 90 1 node, 42
Kleinian singularities, 91 2 nodes, 40, 42
3 nodes, 39
Multiplicity, 90 4 nodes, 31, 32, 39
with a double line and conic,
Nodal surface, 2 62
99
Index
with one double line 2 nodes, 36, 40, 42

0 nodes, 63 3 nodes, 34
1 node, 57 4 nodes, 28, 30, 41
2 nodes, 52
Tangent hyperplane, 14
3 nodes, 51
4 nodes, 50 Tangential variety, 18
5 nodes, 49, 55 Toeplitz, 21, 75 Transversal
6 nodes, 46, 49, 54 intersection, 10
7 nodes, 47 Variety of singular loci, 19 – 22, 30,
8 nodes, 47 32, 35, 37, 73, 80
with three double lines, 62 Veronese
with two double lines map, 9, 17
0 nodes, 61 surface, 9
1 node, 40 variety, 9, 17
100

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The Integration of Quitting

This paper delves into the concepts which direct when to

I am beholden to my advisor, Kristian Ranestad, for introducing me to a deeply

List of Tables vii

6.1 Symmetroids with No Isolated Singularities . . . . . . . . . .. 61

2.1 Projection of the Veronese surface to the Steiner surface . . . . . . 13

3.1 The pillow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

A.1 Rational quartic symmetroids singular along a line, with seven to

All figures are drawn by the author using TikZ or surf.

4.1 Possible singularities on quartic del Pezzo surfaces . . . . . . . . . 27

C.1 ADE classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

“Be prepared to immediately commit to the

first thing you see that’s better than what

you saw in that first 37%”

applying it to myself for my love life (future) 💔. Returning to the topic, to

was heartbreak 💔, a stark contrast to house-hunting where rejection by a house

In love, rejection is a possibility 💔, a reality that mathematicians have considered. If

The Italian geometers have erected, on somewhat shaky

H E R E we review Veronese varieties, because the image V of a quadratic

2.1 Quadratic Forms

Then we have that

Proof. Since C is a conic, A cannot be the zero matrix.

This occurs precisely when A has full rank.

2.2 Veronese Embedding

In light of Proposition 2.1.1 this can be interpreted as the set of points

such that the quadratic form associated to M defines a double line.

[M0(a0, . . . , an) : . . . : MN (a0, . . . , an)].

2.3 The Degree of a Veronese Variety

In particular, if k + l = n, then X ∩ Y consists of deg(X) · deg(Y ) points.

be the point on the Veronese surface V ⊂ P5 coming from P 0 := [a0 : a1 : a2]

In other words, there is a bijection between hyperplane sections of the

In precisely the same manner, for a Veronese map νd : Pn → PN of

Bertini’s theorem implies that the intersection of the Yi has dimension 0. An

2.4 Projection of the Veronese Surface to P3

dim Λ1Λ2 ≤ dim(Λ1) + dim(Λ2) + 1.

Equality holds if and only if Λ1 and Λ2 are disjoint. In general,

dim Λ1Λ2 ≤ dim(Λ1) + dim(Λ2) − dim(Λ1 ∩ Λ2),

lines in Pn. The secant line map is defined on the complement (X × X) \ Δ of

is the union of all secant lines of X.

M= y01 y11 y12 .

However, M only parametrises the symmetric (3 × 3)-matrices, so Proposi-

This map is surjective [Dol12, Section 2.1.1].

Figure 2.2: Pairwise intersection of conics and lines.

Figure 2.3: The Steiner surface from diﬀerent angles.

Duality and Special Projection

(a) Pencil of ellipses. (b) Pencil of line-pairs (c) Pencil of line-pairs

I am a great fan of science, but I

E point x on a symmetroid V(det(M)) is associated with a symmetric matrix M(x).

3.1 Moduli Space

line l ⊂ P3 with ideal

ha0x0 + a1x1 + a2x2 + a3x3, b0x0 + b1x1 + b2x2 + b3x3i,

then the plane Π ⊂ Sec(Q1) intersecting Q1 in ν2(l) is given by

Remark 3.1.3. Unfortunately, Notation 3.1.2 is vague because the same

discriminant hypersurface of the web of quadrics. The symmetroid defined by

Remark 3.1.4. If the symmetroid S is a cone, then H only defines a net of

3.2 Web of Quadrics

Proof. We claim that the tangent space to D in W at a point [ QP ], such that

M(x) := M0x0 + · · · + Mkxk,

3.3 Some Unusual Symmetroids

So P a = 0 is equivalent to Ax = 0. In other words,