Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 2 12F b ii Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 2 12F b i Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 2 12F a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Normalization of the probability density function givesThe first two moments areConsequentlyThe cumulative distribution function is on . For with the uniform distribution on , inverse transform sampling therefore usesThe inverse lies in the required interval and satisfies .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 2 11F e Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Now the event is to hit before , starting at . Up to the first of those two hitting times, translate the interval by one unit; its endpoints become and the starting point becomes . The gambler's ruin hitting probability is thereforeStopping at is essential: using the original absorbing endpoint would answer a different event.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 2 11F d Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
The initial position is . Applying the gambler's ruin hitting probability and mean hitting time givesFor comparison, the original central starting position would give probability and mean time minutes.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 2 11F c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
The homogeneous linear recurrence relation has characteristic polynomial , hence general solution . For the expected-time recurrence, rearrangement gives , for which is a particular solution. ThusImposing the absorbing boundary conditions from the preceding parts gives the gambler's ruin formulas
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 2 11F b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Let be the expected remaining hitting time of either endpoint, measured in minutes. The first step consumes one minute, after which first-step analysis givesThe expectation is finite: from any interior state, a block of twenty leftward steps guarantees absorption and has probability . Thus the survival probability over successive twenty-step blocks has a geometric upper bound. This justifies using finite expectations in the recurrence.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 2 11F a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Let be the hitting probability of the right endpoint before the left endpoint, starting at . A surviving vase corresponds to that right-endpoint event. Conditioning on the first step of the simple symmetric random walk givesThe Markov property makes the remaining probability depend only on the position after that step. These absorbing endpoint values distinguish the event of interest from its complement.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 2 10F b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Each waiting time has the geometric distribution on with success probability : a wait of length consists of failures followed by the prescribed success, so its probability is . HenceDisjoint successive blocks of independent tosses give independent waiting times. More explicitly, any specified list of block lengths determines exactly one allowed sequence of heads and tails and has probability , the product of the individual block probabilities.
There are waiting times. Multiplication of their probability generating functions and addition of their expectations giveTo recover its probability mass function, expand by the negative binomial series:The coefficient of is thereforeand it is zero below . Equivalently there are compositions of into positive block lengths, each with probability . This is the negative binomial distribution for a sum of geometric waiting times, even though the desired outcome alternates between blocks.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 2 10F a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
For any nonnegative random variable with finite expectation and any , Markov's inequality statesIndeed , and taking expectations proves the bound. Nonnegativity is essential.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 1 9F c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Choose large enough that the given ratio bound holds for every . Positivity permits taking logarithms, and the preceding inequality givesSumming, and using the integral test for convergence from part (b), gives for Thus . Since , the P-series converges, so the comparison test for series provesThe finitely many initial terms do not affect convergence. This power-law comparison from a refined ratio bound supplies information when the ordinary ratio test can be inconclusive.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 1 9F b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
The function is decreasing and positive. Therefore on it is at most , and the Riemann integral givesSumming from to yieldsFor both sides are zero; for the inequality is actually strict. The same integral test for convergence gives .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 1 9F a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
For a positive-term series, the ratio test says that if , the series converges; if the ratio tends to , including positive infinity, it diverges. More generally suffices for convergence and for divergence. A limiting ratio of one gives no conclusion.
The P-series converges and the harmonic series diverges. Both have strictly decreasing positive terms, and their successive ratios, and , tend to one. These supply the two requested possibilities.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 1 8B b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
For a real antisymmetric matrix, , so . The previous result makes every eigenvalue of real, with a real nonzero eigenvector . Moreover,Thus every eigenvalue of is real and nonpositive.
Take real unit eigenvectors of for the respective distinct nonzero eigenvalues , where the real parameters are nonzero. DefineThe displayed quadratic identity gives . Also and , because a real antisymmetric matrix has zero quadratic form. Thus and . Since commutes with , lies in the same eigenspace of as , and in the same one as . Distinct eigenspaces of the real symmetric matrix are orthogonal, so all four vectors are orthonormal. Finally,Thus on each of the two perpendicular planes, acts as a scaled quarter-turn. This constructs the required vectors, rather than merely counting dimensions.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 1 8B a iii Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 1 8B a ii Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 1 8B a i Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 1 7B c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Use the eigenvector basis , , . The forcing has decomposition . If , the linear system reduces toFor , all coefficients are determined, givingFor , the first equation would say , so there are no solutions. For , , , and is arbitrary. Thus all solutions areThese outcomes illustrate respectively an invertible matrix, incompatible forcing outside its image of a linear map, and a compatible forcing with a nontrivial kernel of a linear map.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 1 7B b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
The equation is solvable exactly when , the image of a linear map, equivalently when the rank of a matrix satisfies . If it is solvable and is one solution, every solution is preciselyIndeed differences of solutions lie in the kernel of a linear map, and adding a kernel vector preserves the equation. Hence there are no solutions when ; one solution when is invertible; and infinitely many solutions when and is singular. In the last case the rank-nullity theorem gives a nonzero kernel vector , and gives distinct solutions for every real . This proves that a finite number greater than one is impossible.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 1 7B a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Expanding the characteristic polynomial givesThus the eigenvalues are . Solving the corresponding homogeneous linear systems givesEvery nonzero vector in the displayed eigenspace is an eigenvector. Direct multiplication verifies the three eigenvalue equations. The distinct eigenvalues imply these eigenvectors are linearly independent and form a basis of .
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