Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2008/iii/paper-3/5/iv/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 iii Paper 3 5 iv Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Use the same nonsemisimple matrix from part (i) and the one-dimensional Lie subalgebraIt is a Lie subalgebra because for all scalars . Its Jordan–Chevalley decomposition has and . If , comparing off-diagonal entries forces , which contradicts the diagonal entries. If , taking traces gives , again forcing although . ThusThe semisimplicity assumption on the Lie algebra in part (ii) is therefore essential.
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