The Mahler measure of a Weierstrass form

Abstract

We prove an identity between Mahler measures of polynomials that was originally conjectured by Boyd. The combination of this identity with a result of Zudilin leads to a formula involving a Mahler measure of a Weierstrass form of conductor 17 given in terms of [Formula: see text]. Our proof involves a non-trivial identity between regulators which leads to the elliptic curve [Formula: see text]-function being expressed in terms of the regulator evaluated in a non-rational non-torsion point.