Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2013/iii/paper-3/3/c/i/solution

Keep row-vector action and the block order . Let be the reversal matrix of size , arising from the original reversed order of , and let be the alternating bilinear form matrix on . Then
For an element of , the equation gives
Thus , a matrix, is arbitrary and uniquely determines . The right side of the second equation is alternating, including in characteristic two: its diagonal entries vanish because represents an alternating bilinear form.
For any alternating matrix , the equation has exactly solutions. For each pair , choose one entry freely and solve for the opposite entry; each diagonal entry is free. This works in characteristic two as well as odd characteristic. Taking therefore gives
This is the unipotent radical count for a symplectic parabolic subgroup. It does not incorrectly replace the alternating constraint by division by two.

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