Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2009/iii/paper-51/1/d/solution

In the ordered computational basis , the first two qubits of have amplitudes , while those of have amplitudes . Both have the same normalized answer qubit . Their inner product is therefore
A common unitary operator preserves this nonzero inner product. To distinguish the alternatives with certainty using the prescribed quantum measurement in the computational basis, their first-register outcome supports would have to be disjoint: every outcome possible under one alternative must be impossible under the other. Vectors with disjoint computational basis supports have zero inner product, contradicting its preservation. Thus no such exists. This is also an instance of perfect discrimination of pure states requires orthogonality; allowing a more general measurement in quantum mechanics would not rescue this pair of states. The obstruction concerns these prepared oracle-output states, rather than every conceivable oracle-query procedure.

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