Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-groups-and-representations-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2024/3/a/solution
Past exam of the groups and representations course of the University of Oxford 2024 3 a Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
For a real linear change of coordinates , one has . The Euclidean metric therefore transforms toIt agrees with for every displacement precisely when . For example, equality of the associated quadratic forms determines their symmetric coefficient matrices by polarization identity. The orthogonal group is defined by this condition, soTaking determinants gives . Thus these matrices are invertible automatically; both signs of the determinant are allowed, since the metric alone does not specify an orientation.
New to topics? Read the docs here!