Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2004/ia/paper-1/2c/solution

Write , , . If , every and the claimed inequality is immediate. Otherwise the sum of squares
holds for every real . Choosing gives , and hence the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality in its stronger absolute-value form:
In particular , as requested. For unit vectors, , so this same argument gives
The absolute value is essential for opposite-pointing vectors; it follows from the squared inequality without a sign assumption on their dot product.

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