Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2003/iii/paper-70/1/c/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 iii Paper 70 1 c i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
For and , the discriminant is strictly positive. The two roots have positive sum and positive product , so both roots are positive and distinct. Each gives exactly one positive and hence a different right stretch tensor. If , neither tensor is the undeformed identity because its third diagonal entry is . Thus two distinct deformed configurations are possible. Excluding removes the case in which one of the two configurations is the undeformed body; it is not needed just for positivity of the roots.
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