Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ib Paper 2 1F Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
Let . Choose a basis of the intersection of vector subspaces, extend it to a basis of , and independently extend it to a basis of . The combined listspans the sum of vector subspaces . It is also linearly independent: a vanishing linear combination says that a combination of the belongs to , and its expression in the chosen basis of forces all its coefficients to vanish; the coefficients of the then vanish in the same way. This proves the dimension formula for a sum of subspaces
Parametrize the two linear subspaces asPutting a vector of in first forces its fourth coordinate to vanish; the remaining defining equation is then automatic. Thusand the dimension formula gives .
The linear functionalvanishes on each displayed generator of and . Its kernel is three-dimensional because , so the inclusion between two three-dimensional subspaces is equality.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2020 ib Paper 1 8F Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
The rank of a matrix is the dimension of its column space, equivalently the dimension of the image of a linear map represented by the matrix. For , the rank-nullity theorem givesAn injective endomorphism of a finite-dimensional vector space is surjective, hence invertible. By the adjugate matrix identity is invertible when ; conversely, multiplicativity of the determinant shows that an invertible has nonzero determinant. Therefore
Let be the matrix unit with its only nonzero entry at . The following matrices are all nonsingular:Indeed, is an elementary shear when , while is diagonal with one diagonal entry equal to two. Their linear span contains every except initially , because , and it then containsThus spans the -dimensional space and, having members, is a basis. This also covers , when .
Now let be a nonsingular zero-one matrix. If it had fewer than zero entries, at least two rows would contain no zero at all. Those two rows would both be the all-one row, contradicting linear independence. Hence every such matrix has at mostones. The bound is attained. Let be the all-one matrix and setwhere there are initial diagonal ones. If and , the first row equations give , while the last gives . Hence every , so is nonsingular and has exactly ones. Therefore
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 ii Paper 2 22H a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
If a subspace contains a ball about some , translation gives a ball about zero in , and scaling then gives every vector of . Thus every proper subspace has empty interior.
If a complete infinite-dimensional had a countable Hamel basis , thenEach finite-dimensional subspace is closed and, being proper, nowhere dense. This contradicts the Baire category theorem. The polynomials have the countable Hamel basis and are infinite-dimensional, so no norm can make that whole vector space complete.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 ib Paper 2 8F Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-09-25
Let satisfy for every vector . If there is nothing to prove. Otherwise choose with . For every and every real number ,so the hypothesis gives . Taking two values of shows that . Sincewe obtain . Thus one of the two linear functionals is zero.
Sylvester's law of inertia says that, in a suitable basis, every real quadratic form isThe rank is , and the signature is ; both are independent of the chosen basis.
If , its polar form has image contained in , so . If , the two functionals must be independent and, after taking their sum and difference, is a difference of two squares. Hence . If , then . In every case,Conversely, this inequality leaves onlyup to a linear change of coordinates. These factor respectively as , , and . Therefore
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 iii Paper 102 2 a Solution 2026-09-28
A finite root system in a real Euclidean vector space is a finite spanning set such that, for every , the root reflectionpreserves , and the Cartan integer is an integer for all . It is reduced when the only scalar multiples of in are and . Its Weyl group is the subgroup of the orthogonal group generated by the reflections . A base of a root system is a basis of such that every root is an integer combination of elements of whose nonzero coefficients all have the same sign.
The coroot of isLet be the Weyl chamber determined by :The roots and are positive scalar multiples, so their reflecting hyperplanes and their positive half-spaces are identical. The same chamber therefore defines positivity in the coroot system . Its walls correspond exactly to the rays for . Hence its simple roots arewhich is therefore a base of .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ia Paper 1 8B Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-10-03
A real matrix is orthogonal when . If , norm preservation gives . If and , preservation of the Hermitian inner product gives ; distinct unit-modulus eigenvalues therefore have orthogonal eigenvectors.
The nonreal eigenvalues of a real matrix occur in conjugate pairs. Since their product is one and , the remaining real eigenvalue is . If , then , and , so : the plane is invariant.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ia Paper 3 12B a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
Let the new orthonormal basis satisfy . Then an th-rank tensor transforms bySince , the Hessian of a scalar obeys this law with two factors of .
An isotropic tensor is unchanged under every rotation. In three dimensions the most general isotropic tensors of ranks zero through three are respectively
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ib Paper 1 1F Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-10-03
Choose bases of and , of dimensions and . A linear map is uniquely determined by the arbitrary images of the basis vectors, each with coordinates, so
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ib Paper 2 8F Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-10-03
Over , choose a basis in which is upper triangular, with diagonal entries . For the standard invariant flag ,The factors commute, so applying their product in descending order sends successively into . Hencewhich proves the theorem.
Put . Since commutes with , repeated use of the product rule givesBy linearity, for every polynomial ,
Let and suppose . For ,Assume inductively thatBoth and are polynomials in, or commute with, , so . Apply the derivation to and multiply on the left by :Since , this saysThe induction is complete. Taking and givesThus is nilpotent, which is the Jacobson lemma for a commuting commutator.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ib Paper 3 9F Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-09-25
To prove the finite-dimensional spectral theorem, first note that the continuous quadratic function has a maximum on the unit sphere. The Lagrange multiplier equation at a maximizing vector gives , so has a real unit eigenvector. Its orthogonal complement is invariant becauseInduction on the dimension supplies an orthonormal eigenbasis of that complement and hence of .
For ,while symmetry and bilinearity are immediate, so the displayed formula defines an inner product on . Sinceintegration by parts givesThe boundary term vanishes for polynomials, proving that is self-adjoint.
On the monomial ,Thus the matrix of in the monomial basis is triangular with diagonalThese are therefore its eigenvalues. For , corresponding eigenvectors arefor eigenvalues , respectively. They are the first Laguerre polynomials up to normalization, as described by the Laguerre differential operator on polynomials.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ii Paper 3 34D Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-09-25
Let the Bravais lattice have primitive vectors , and putThe reciprocal lattice has the basisThe scalar triple product and cross product identities giveConsequently every satisfies for every lattice point , and conversely these three conditions force the coefficients of in the reciprocal basis to be integers. This proves that the displayed vectors generate .
In the Born approximation, suppose that the crystal potential is the sum of translates of one atomic potential over the finite set of lattice sites. Its Fourier transform at the momentum transfer factors asThus the single-atom scattering amplitude is multiplied by the crystal lattice structure factor . Writingseparates the sum into three finite geometric series. For this givesWhen the are large, a factor has a sharp maximum when . All three factors are therefore simultaneously large precisely when . These are the reciprocal-lattice peaks of a finite crystal.
For the stated Body-centered cubic lattice basis,the reciprocal-basis formula givesEquivalently,The shortest nonzero reciprocal vectors have squared Euclidean norm , so
In elastic scattering, . If and is the angle between and , Euclidean geometry givesThe first possible diffraction peak therefore occurs atas , by the small-angle approximation. This is the elastic Bragg scattering condition for the shortest reciprocal-lattice vector.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ia Paper 1 7B e Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Eigenvectors belonging to distinct eigenvalues are linearly independent. Indeed, supposeis a shortest nontrivial relation, where and the are distinct. Applying givesa shorter nontrivial relation, a contradiction.
Thus distinct eigenvalues provide a basis of eigenvectors, proving that is diagonalizable over . If is real and all its eigenvalues are real, each real singular matrix has a nonzero real null vector. Choosing one for each eigenvalue gives a real eigenbasis. Hence the real matrix is diagonalizable over . This is the distinct eigenvalues imply diagonalizability criterion.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ia Paper 1 8B c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
First note that if is normal, thenfor every . Hence an eigenvector with also satisfiesNormalize and extend it to an orthonormal basis. Let have these basis vectors as columns. The first column of is . For every ,so the first row also has no off-diagonal entries. ThereforeComparing the two block products in the normality identity shows that , so is normal.
The result is trivial in dimension one. Applying the induction hypothesis to and adjoining the eigenvector gives an orthonormal eigenbasis for . This proves the unitary diagonalization of a normal matrix.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ia Paper 1 8B d i Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
The proof is by induction on . Choose a unit eigenvector of , which exists by part (a), and extend it to an orthonormal basis. In that basis,By induction, a unitary change of basis on the last coordinates makes upper triangular. Extending that change by the identity on the first coordinate leaves the displayed zero block intact. Their product is unitary and makes all of upper triangular. This proves Schur triangularization.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ia Paper 3 12B iii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ia Paper 3 3B i Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ib Paper 1 1G Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-09-25
For a linear map , its rank is and its nullity is . The rank-nullity theorem states that, when is finite-dimensional,To prove it, take a basis of and extend it to a basisof . The vectors span . They are also linearly independent: if , then , and independence of the chosen basis forces every to vanish. Thus the rank is and the nullity is .