Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2025/ia/paper-3/7d/solution

For , finite fixed points obey
with the point at infinity included in the usual way when appropriate. The fundamental theorem of algebra on the Riemann sphere gives at least one fixed point. Unless is the identity, the equation is nonzero of degree at most two, so there are one or two distinct fixed points.
Let be a primitive th root of unity. For every ,
has order , and these transformations are distinct as varies.
Projectivising matrices is a homomorphism. Thus in implies in the Möbius group.
The converse as stated is false because matrix representatives may be rescaled: and define the same Möbius transformation, while neither nor is conjugate to (their traces differ).

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