Part II, 2006
Define the branching order at a point and the degree of a non-constant holomorphic map between compact Riemann surfaces. State the Riemann-Hurwitz formula.
Let be an affine curve defined by the equation , where is an integer. Show that the projective curve corresponding to is non-singular and identify the points of . Let be a continuous map from to the Riemann sphere , such that the restriction of to is given by . Show that is holomorphic on . Find the degree and the ramification points of on and their branching orders. Determine the genus of .
[Basic properties of the complex structure on an algebraic curve may be used without proof if accurately stated.]