Elliptic Curve Point Addition

Group law on E: y² = x³ + ax + b over ℝ and over finite fields 𝔽_p

Over ℝ
Over 𝔽_p
Scalar mult

Curve y² = x³ + ax + b

P = (click curve)
Q = (right-click)
R = P + Q = ?
Addition law:
λ = (y₂-y₁)/(x₂-x₁)
x₃ = λ²-x₁-x₂
y₃ = λ(x₁-x₃)-y₁

Doubling:
λ = (3x₁²+a)/(2y₁)

Identity: point at infinity 𝒪
P + (-P) = 𝒪; -P = (x,-y)

E over 𝔽_p

All formulas work mod p!
Division → modular inverse.

Hasse's theorem:
|#E(𝔽_p) - (p+1)| ≤ 2√p

ECDLP: given P, Q=kP,
find k — believed hard.
Basis of ECC cryptography.

secp256k1: y²=x³+7, p≈2²⁵⁶
(Bitcoin's curve)

Scalar Multiplication kG

Double-and-add:
Binary representation of k
→ O(log k) group operations

k=7=111₂:
Start: R=G
bit 1: R=2R+G (double+add)
bit 1: R=2R+G
= 7G ✓

Security: ECDLP in group of
order n needs ~√n steps
(baby-step giant-step)