ellcard

Function: ellcard
Section: elliptic_curves
C-Name: ellcard
Prototype: GDG
Help: ellcard(E,{p}): given an elliptic curve E defined over
 a finite field Fq, return the order of the group E(Fq); for other fields
 of definition K, p must define a finite residue field,
 (p prime for K = Qp or Q; p a maximal ideal for K a number field),
 return the order of the (nonsingular) reduction of E.
Doc: Let \kbd{E} be an \kbd{ell} structure as output by \kbd{ellinit}, attached
 to an elliptic curve $E/K$. If $K = \F_q$ is finite, return the order of the
 group $E(\F_q)$.
 \bprog
 ? E = ellinit([-3,1], 5); ellcard(E)
 %1 = 7
 ? t = ffgen(3^5,'t); E = ellinit([t,t^2+1]); ellcard(E)
 %2 = 217
 @eprog\noindent
 For other fields of definition and $p$ defining a finite residue field
 $\F_q$, return the order of the reduction of $E$: the argument $p$ is best
 left omitted if $K = \Q_\ell$ (else we must have $p = \ell$) and must be a
 prime number ($K = \Q$) or prime ideal ($K$ a general number field) with
 residue field $\F_q$ otherwise. The equation need not be minimal
 or even integral at $p$; of course, a minimal model will be more efficient.
 The function considers the group of nonsingular points of the reduction
 of a minimal model of the curve at $p$, so also makes sense when the curve
 has bad reduction.
 \bprog
 ? E = ellinit([-3,1]);
 ? factor(E.disc)
 %2 =
 [2 4]

 [3 4]
 ? ellcard(E, 5)  \\ as above !
 %3 = 7
 ? ellcard(E, 2) \\ additive reduction
 %4 = 2
 @eprog

 When the characteristic of the finite field is large, the availability of
 the \kbd{seadata} package will speed the computation. See also \tet{ellap}
 for the list of implemented algorithms.

Variant: Also available is \fun{GEN}{ellcard}{GEN E, GEN p} where $p$ is not
 \kbd{NULL}.