The Mahler measure of parametrizable polynomials

Our aim is to explain instances in which the value of the logarithmic Mahler measure m(P) of a polynomial P∈Zx,y] can be written in an unexpectedly neat manner. To this end we examine polynomials defining rational curves, which allows their zero-locus to be parametrized via x=f(t), y=g(t) for f,g∈C(t). As an illustration of this phenomenon, we prove the equality