Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2019/iii/paper-348/4/d/solution

Define ; the printed quotient is undefined at the origin, but this continuous extension changes no transport cost because . In polar coordinates, the two probability density functions give
Both angular distributions are uniform, with independence of angle and radius. The proposed transport map preserves the angle and sends to . Therefore
and preservation of the angle proves . As a local check using the Jacobian determinant, its radial and tangential derivatives for are and , respectively, so and .
Now use the convex function
It is convex because the Euclidean norm is convex and is increasing and convex on . It is differentiable, including at zero, and
Its graph transport plan lies in the graph of , so the Knott–Smith optimality criterion proves quadratic optimality. Since that plan is induced by a map, part 1(b) proves optimality for the Monge optimal transport problem as well. The minimum provides a useful independent check:

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