# Chmutov Octic

An octic surface is one defined by a polynomial equation of degree 8. This image by Abdelaziz Nait Merzouk shows an octic discovered by Chmutov with 154 real ordinary double points or nodes: that is, points where it looks like the origin of the cone in 3-dimensional space defined by $x^2 + y^2 = z^2$.

# Escudero Nonic

A nonic surface is one defined by a polynomial equation of degree 9. This image by Juan García Escudero shows a nonic surface called $Q_9$, which has 220 real ordinary double points: that is, points where it looks like the origin of the cone in 3-dimensional space defined by $x^2 + y^2 = z^2$.

# Togliatti Quintic

A quintic surface is one defined by a polynomial equation of degree 5. A nodal surface is one whose only singularities are ordinary double points: that is, points where it looks like the origin of the cone in 3-dimensional space defined by $x^2 + y^2 = z^2$. A Togliatti surface is a quintic nodal surface with the largest possible number of ordinary double points, namely 31. Here Abdelaziz Nait Merzouk has drawn the real points of a Togliatti surface.

# Kummer Quartic

A quartic surface is one defined by a polynomial equation of degree 4. An ordinary double point is a point where a surface looks like the origin of the cone in 3-dimensional space defined by $x^2 + y^2 = z^2$. The Kummer surfaces are the quartic surfaces with the largest possible number of ordinary double points, namely 16. This picture by Abdelaziz Nait Merzouk shows the real points of a Kummer surface.

# Cayley’s Nodal Cubic Surface

A cubic surface is one defined by a polynomial equation of degree 3. Cayley’s nodal cubic surface, drawn above by Abdelaziz Nait Merzouk, is the cubic surface with the largest possible number of ordinary double points and no other singularities: that is, points where it looks like the origin of the cone in 3-dimensional space defined by $x^2 + y^2 = z^2$. It has 4 ordinary double points, shown here at the vertices of a regular tetrahedron.

# Endrass Octic

An octic surface is one defined by a polynomial equation of degree 8. The Endrass octic, drawn above by Abdelaziz Nait Merzouk, is currently the octic surface with the largest known number of ordinary double points: that is, points where it looks like the origin of the cone in 3-dimensional space defined by $x^2 + y^2 = z^2$. It has 168 ordinary double points, while the best known upper bound for a octic surface that’s smooth except for such singularities is 174.

# Labs Septic

A septic surface is one defined by a polynomial equation of degree 7. The Labs septic, drawn above by Abdelaziz Nait Merzouk, is a septic surface with the maximum possible number of ordinary double points: that is, points where it looks like the origin of the cone in 3-dimensional space defined by $x^2 + y^2 = z^2$.