Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2018
We examine the problem of finding rational points defined over solvable extensions on algebraic curves defined over general fields. We construct non-singular, geometrically irreducible projective curves without solvable points of genus $g$, when $g$ is at least 40, over fields of arbitrary characteristic. We prove that every smooth, geometrically irreducible projective curve of genus 0, 2, 3 or 4 defined over any field has a solvable point. Finally we prove that every genus 1 curve defined over a local field of characteristic zero with residue field of characteristic $p$ has a divisor of degree prime to $6p$ defined over a solvable extension.