Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2015/iii/paper-5/1/3/e/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 5 1 3 e Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-06
Because is a decreasing bijection, its inverse exists and is continuous. For any , choose in the preceding inequality. The line from then reaches , giving .
Now let and . On this characteristic curve, , so the tangent-line inequality is an equality throughout. This proves attainment andIn fact the maximizing foot is unique. The concave Legendre dual can be written and satisfies : compare the minimizing values at and and use continuity of . This avoids assuming differentiability of , which strict concavity by itself does not guarantee. Differentiating the maximizing expression with respect to gives , hence and . The maximum representation for a concave conservation law therefore reproduces the characteristic solution of a scalar conservation law throughout the smooth lifespan.
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