Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2010/iii/paper-24/2/a/solution

Fix a basis of a finite-dimensional vector space over , and let be a norm homogeneous for the given absolute value on a field and satisfying the ultrametric inequality. Write . The upper bound
is immediate. For the lower bound use induction on . The one-dimensional case is homogeneity. For the induction step, the span of is complete for its restricted norm by the induction comparison with the coordinate norm and completeness of . A complete vector subspace of a metric space is closed, so
For with , scaling by gives ; the same coefficient bound is trivial when . Also
The induction bound controls every coordinate of by a constant times . Together with the bound on , this proves .
Two extending absolute values on a field on are norms of this kind on its finite-dimensional vector space over . Hence there is with for every . Apply this to and use multiplicativity:
Letting gives . Interchanging the two norms gives equality. Thus
The proof covers the trivial base absolute value on a field too. It proves uniqueness, without assuming an existence theorem or compactness of the coordinate sphere .

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