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Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2010 Paper 2 1 ii Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
The appropriate weighted inner product and Sturm-Liouville operator areFor two functions obeying the endpoint conditions, integration by parts gives the Lagrange identity for a Sturm-Liouville operatorAt , both and vanish. At , the factor tends to zero while the functions and their first derivatives remain bounded. Thus the boundary form vanishes at both ends.
This gives the regular self-adjoint differential operator realization: its singular-end condition is , together with . The bounded classical eigenfunctions satisfy exactly this no-log choice. More precisely the operator domain is the maximal differential-operator domain in the weighted space with these separated endpoint conditions; the preceding calculation verifies its self-adjoint boundary form, rather than merely the differential expression's formal symmetry.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2010 Paper 2 1 i Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
Multiplying by makes the first two terms a total derivative:The resulting Sturm-Liouville form isEquivalently, an integrating multiplier must satisfy , which reduces to and gives up to a constant. The coefficient is positive for and vanishes linearly at the left endpoint; the weight is positive throughout. The boundedness condition removes the logarithmic local branch, giving the no-log boundary condition at a linearly vanishing Sturm-Liouville endpoint.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2010 Paper 1 7 v Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
Assume the image of the domain of lies in the domain where is holomorphic. The complex chain rule givesso the composition is holomorphic, including at points where . Its real part is therefore a harmonic function.
A direct verification uses the composition of harmonic conjugate pairs. The multivariable chain rule givesThe Cauchy-Riemann equations imply ; parts (i) and (ii) remove the last three terms. Since is harmonic in its own variables,
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2010 Paper 1 7 iv Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
For a harmonic function, put and . Since , its Hessian matrix isA nonzero determinant is therefore negative, and the two real Hessian eigenvalues are . At a stationary point the quadratic term of the Taylor expansion has both signs. Consequently every such nondegenerate stationary point is a saddle point. This is the nondegenerate stationary points of a planar harmonic function criterion. The same argument applies to , whose stationary points coincide with those of . A zero Hessian determinant is outside this second-order classification.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2010 Paper 1 7 iii Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
The rotation from the Cauchy-Riemann equations is invertible. HenceThus their stationary points coincide, including degenerate ones.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2010 Paper 1 7 ii Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
The Cauchy-Riemann equations give . ThereforeThe gradient is normal to a regular level set, so these curves intersect orthogonally wherever their gradients are nonzero. At a stationary point, where both gradients vanish, a regular curve tangent need not exist; the algebraic identity remains valid.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2010 Paper 1 7 i Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
Differentiate the Cauchy-Riemann equations and use equality of mixed partial derivatives, which holds because holomorphic functions are smooth:Thus both parts are harmonic functions.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2010 Paper 1 6 c Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
Differentiate the eigenvalue equation along the assumed smooth normalized eigenbranch:Since is real symmetric, . Multiplying the differentiated equation by and using cancels the terms containing :Thus the finite-dimensional Hellmann–Feynman theorem givesEquivalently, differentiating the normalization gives and eliminates those terms from the derivative of . The proof needs the smooth eigenbranch assumed in the question; the smallest eigenvalue need not be differentiable at an arbitrary crossing without that assumption.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2010 Paper 1 6 b Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
The trace of a square matrix is . Expanding a product and interchanging its finite sums givesHence every commutator has trace zero. Taking the trace of gives . Over the complex numbers, with , this forcesFor that value, choose , or any commuting pair. For every nonzero the trace contradiction proves nonexistence. The finite matrix size is essential to this trace argument.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2010 Paper 1 6 a Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
Complete the square in the quadratic form:The real invertible linear transformationsets , , , giving . The same transformation givesIts signature is . By Sylvester's law of inertia no real invertible change of variables can turn this second form into a sum of three positive squares.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2010 Paper 1 1 b Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
Away from the axis, cylindrical coordinates put the field in the line vortex formThe only potentially nonzero component of its curl isThe other components vanish because there is no axial dependence and no radial or axial velocity. Thus the curl is zero for ; the field is singular on the axis, so a classical curl there is not defined.
For a spanning surface avoiding that axis, the smoothness hypotheses of Stokes theorem hold and give . If the enclosed planar region contains the axis, the singularity prevents applying that theorem directly. Excise a small disk about the origin. The resulting annulus has zero curl, so its outer circulation equals the counterclockwise circulation on the small circle:This sign assumes positive, counterclockwise orientation. Clockwise orientation gives ; more generally the value is times the winding number about the origin. A curve through the origin is excluded because its integral is singular. In the distribution interpretation the missing vorticity is concentrated on the axis as , explaining the nonzero circulation despite zero classical curl away from it.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2010 Paper 1 1 a Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
In Cartesian coordinates, use the Levi-Civita symbol and the Einstein summation convention to expandThe contraction of the two symbols uses the Kronecker delta, and the final step is the product rule. Thus the convective acceleration identity isPut . The curl of a gradient vanishes, and the curl of a cross product identity givesSince the divergence of a curl is zero, taking the curl of the first identity yieldsTwice continuous differentiability suffices for the mixed-derivative identities used here.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2009 Paper 1 8 b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
Write the analytic solution as . The constant term in the differential equation gives , and matching the coefficient of givesAll odd coefficients therefore vanish; and . The first three nonzero terms areIn full, , so , a Bessel function of the first kind. The ratio test proves convergence for every complex . The other independent solution has a logarithmic singularity at zero and does not satisfy the analyticity requirement.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2009 Paper 1 8 a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
For a nonzero solution on a branch where the real power is differentiable, set . Multiplying the Bernoulli differential equation by gives the linear equationIt can be solved by an integrating factor. For the specified cubic equation take , , so satisfies . Its integrating factor is , giving and hence . Thus all nonzero real solutions areon connected intervals where the denominator is positive, with a fixed sign on each interval. Also solves the original equation and must be restored because the substitution excluded it. The choices give the constant solutions . Smoothness of the original right-hand side gives uniqueness, so a nonzero solution cannot cross through the zero solution at a finite regular point.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2009 Paper 1 7 b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
Factor . The geometric series gives, for ,Thus the first three nonzero terms are . If “first three terms” means the coefficients through degree two, that Taylor polynomial is . The distinction matters because the quadratic coefficient vanishes. The nearest singularities are the two nontrivial cube roots of unity, so the radius of convergence is exactly one.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2009 Paper 1 7 a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2009 Paper 1 10 b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-11-05
Write the speed as and takeThe two Euler-Lagrange equations areFor example and , yielding the first equation. Integrating once gives constants with and . The case would force both velocities to vanish, contrary to a regular curve. Squaring and adding therefore givesThus every regular stationary curve is a circle, whose center is set by the integration constants. A simple closed traversal of length has radius and positive enclosed area . The planar isoperimetric inequality proves that this stationary candidate is the global maximum; the necessary variational equations alone would not prove that inequality. The stationary curves of the planar isoperimetric problem give this argument independently of the chosen parametrization.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2009 Paper 1 10 a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
At a regular constrained extremum, the method of Lagrange multipliers makes stationary for a constant . For an endpoint-vanishing variation , integration by parts givesThe fundamental lemma of the calculus of variations therefore yieldsThis Euler-Lagrange equation must be supplemented by the two endpoint conditions and the prescribed integral constraint, which determine the constants and multiplier. Existence of the normal multiplier assumes that the first variation of is not identically zero. If that regularity fails, the general multiplier equation uses , with ; one cannot automatically set .
Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project
Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
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Intro to OurBigBook
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This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.Figure 1. Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page. View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivativeVideo 2. OurBigBook Web topics demo. Source. - local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
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