Abstract

We give a self-contained introduction to isolated points on curves and their counterpoint, parameterized points, that situates these concepts within the study of the arithmetic of curves. In particular, we show how natural geometric constructions of infinitely many degree $d$ points on curves motivate the definitions of ${\mathbb{P}}^1$- and AV-parameterized points and explain how a result of Faltings implies that there are only finitely many isolated points on any curve. We use parameterized points to deduce properties of the density degree set and show that parameterized points of very low degree arise for a unique geometric reason. The paper includes several examples that illustrate the possible behaviors of degree $d$ points.

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