Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2022/ii/paper-4/12g/c/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 ii Paper 4 12G c Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
The set is a compact convex square. DefineSimilarly, setThese formulae define a continuous self-map of . The square is homeomorphic to a closed disc, so the Brouwer fixed-point theorem gives a fixed point .
Let at that fixed point. From ,If , every with has . This contradicts bilinearity, becauseHence , all , andfor both pure strategies. By linearity this holds for every mixed strategy . The same argument with givesfor every . Therefore
In game terms, and are the players' mixed strategies, and are their expected payoffs in a two-by-two bimatrix game. The inequalities say that neither player can improve unilaterally, so is a Nash equilibrium. This is the Brouwer proof of Nash equilibrium for a two-by-two game.
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