Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2001/iii/paper-77/7/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2001 iii Paper 77 7 Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-14
In the degree-completed symmetric-function algebra, the Cauchy identity for symmetric functions isIt is a formal identity, so each homogeneous component is finite in the partition index; analytic convergence is not being assumed.
Expand each geometric factor and index the product by finite-support nonnegative matrices:The RSK correspondence sends to a pair of Semistandard Young tableaux of equal shape. Its content identities turn the matrix weight into the product of the recording tableau's weight and the insertion tableau's weight. Summing independently over both tableaux of each shape proves the identity.
Use the Hall inner product of symmetric functions, with , as defined above. The left side is the reproducing kernel . Pairing its Schur expansion in the alphabet with givesThe Schur functions have already been proved to be a basis, so uniqueness of this expansion givesThis is orthonormality for the Hall product; it is not a claim about an unspecified coefficientwise inner product.
The dual determinant established in Question 2 gives . Apply the symmetric-function involution in the alphabet. Since , it transforms each factor into . The dual Cauchy identity is
For arbitrary coefficients in a commutative ring, use the integral symmetric-function algebra and its free complete generators, specializing . This works over any such coefficient ring; a literal homomorphism from the rational algebra also presupposes a -algebra structure on the target. Specialize the first alphabet in the Cauchy identity to obtain the Schur specialization by a generating functionwhere and for . Indeed, the left side is a product of the specialized , and the Jacobi–Trudi identity specializes to the displayed determinant. For an arbitrary infinite the result lies in the degree completion; its coefficients in each degree are well defined.
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