Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 iii Paper 69 1 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
At a sampling point , the given polynomial has value , where is a falling factorial. It vanishes when . The binomial coefficient identity therefore givesThe last step is the binomial theorem, and . For the empty product is one and the identity is simply . This is the Bernstein falling-factorial identity.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 iii Paper 69 1 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Fix and take . Comparing the two products defining and the monomial , change one factor at a time. Every factor has absolute value at most one on , so the triangle inequality givesThe contraction proved in (a) and the Bernstein falling-factorial identity from (b) now giveThis proves uniform convergence for each fixed monomial; linearity then gives it for every fixed polynomial. The cases have zero error for every .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2010 iii Paper 62 1 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Write for the falling factorial. At the sampling points, , which vanishes for . For , cancellation of the factorials givesInsert this into the Bernstein polynomial and set :The binomial theorem evaluates the remaining sum. For , both sides equal one. This proves the Bernstein falling-factorial identity .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2010 iii Paper 62 1 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Fix and take . On , every factor and every factor has absolute value at most one. Replacing the factors successively and applying the triangle inequality givesUsing the supremum norm contraction in (a) and the Bernstein falling-factorial identity in (b),For , the monomials are reproduced exactly. For every fixed , uniformly on .