Ample cone 2026-10-05
The ample cone consists of real numerical divisor classes represented by ample real divisors. It is an open convex cone, and Kleiman's criterion identifies it with the interior of the nef cone.
Closed cone of curves 2026-10-05
The closed cone of curves is the closure in of the convex cone generated by classes of integral curves. A nef divisor pairs nonnegatively with this entire closed cone. Its boundary can contain limiting classes which are not represented by one curve.
Closed convex cone 2026-10-06
A convex cone that is a closed set in its ambient topology. In a finite-dimensional normed vector space, this means it contains every limit of its convergent sequences. For example, the positive semidefinite cone is closed because each test is continuous.
Completely positive cone Created 2026-10-06 Updated 2026-10-07
The convex cone of completely positive matrices:It is a closed convex cone and the dual cone of the copositive cone under the Frobenius inner product. The finite-sum definition imposes no closure by fiat; closedness of the completely positive cone supplies that fact.
Cone in toric geometry Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
A cone in toric geometry is a convex cone generated by finitely many lattice vectors and containing no nonzero linear subspace. Such cones are the pieces of a fan in toric geometry.
A cone in toric geometry is the nonnegative real span of finitely many lattice vectors. It is rational when those generators lie in a lattice and strictly convex when it contains no nonzero linear subspace.
Conic hull Created 2026-10-06 Updated 2026-10-20
The set of all finite conic combinations of elements of , including zero. It is the smallest convex cone containing . It need not be closed even when is closed: the closed set generates vectors converging to via , but no nonzero generated vector has second coordinate zero.
Copositive cone Created 2026-10-05 Updated 2026-10-06
The real symmetric matrices that are copositive matrices form a closed convex cone:Each fixed gives a closed linear inequality in . Their intersection is therefore closed and convex, and it is preserved by nonnegative scaling.
Hyperplane separation theorem 2026-10-14
Two nonempty disjoint convex sets in a finite-dimensional real vector space admit a separating nonzero linear functional: for an appropriate and , on the respective sets. Strict separation requires additional assumptions, such as one set being compact and the other closed. For an open convex cone excluding zero, separation from gives for all ; scaling cone elements forces the separating level to be zero. This finite-dimensional result is related to the supporting hyperplane theorem.
John contact decomposition 2026-10-14
For a centrally symmetric convex body in John position, there are contact points and positive weights such that . Taking the trace gives . A supporting hyperplane at shows .
Here is the maximum-volume argument for the decomposition. If were outside the convex cone generated by the contact matrices, a separating hyperplane would give a symmetric matrix with and at every contact. Subtract a small positive multiple of so these inequalities become strict while the trace remains positive. The support function of is . It decreases below near all contact directions for small positive ; away from them, the strict gap preserves containment. Its volume increases, since , a contradiction. The cone is closed because its generators have trace and form a compact set; finite-dimensional convexity gives a finite decomposition.
Nef cone 2026-10-05
The nef cone is the closed convex cone of nef divisor classes. It is dual to the closed cone of curves. Its interior is the ample cone on a projective scheme.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 iii Paper 29 1 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Normalize the riskless financial asset to , , and write for the risky asset prices. Their discounted gain random vector is . A zero-cost portfolio holding in the risky assets and in the riskless asset has terminal value . Thus an arbitrage meansAn equivalent martingale measure is a probability measure with the same null sets as , under which is integrable and . The discounted risky prices are then martingales over the single trading period.
If such exists, a nonnegative terminal gain has expectation zero under . A nonnegative random variable with zero expectation vanishes almost surely: on its expectation is at least , and the union of these events is . Equivalence transfers this conclusion to , excluding arbitrage.
For the converse we prove the needed positive-density separation proof of the one-period asset-pricing theorem. First make the gain integrable without changing its null sets. Define an equivalent probability measure byLet and let be its orthogonal complement. Taking a finite basis of shows almost surely. If , the gain is zero and already gives the required measure. Otherwise consider the positive-weight expectation conePositive combinations of weights show that is a convex cone. It is open relative to . Indeed, for any admissible weight , perturb it toThese weights remain bounded and strictly positive, whileFor every nonzero , is nonzero on an event of positive probability; otherwise . ConsequentlyThe matrix is finite because . The kernel of on is zero, so it defines an invertible matrix on the finite-dimensional vector space . For any sufficiently small , every with is the image of a vector in the radius- ball, since . Hence the perturbations give a neighborhood of zero, proving relative openness of .
If , the hyperplane separation theorem gives a nonzero with for every . The separating constant can be taken to be zero because is a cone. Put and use the strictly positive weights . Taking the limit as yields , forcing . But , so . This is an arbitrage, a contradiction. Hence : some bounded strictly positive satisfies . Normalize it by . This gives an equivalent martingale measure with integrable gains, establishing the fundamental theorem of asset pricing here without any further existence theorem.
Now retain only the positive-probability states of the finite probability space. Let be the linear span of the discounted terminal asset payoffs; it contains the constant vector . A complete market means . An equivalent martingale measure is a vector of strictly positive state probabilities whose pairing with each asset payoff gives its initial price. By linearity it prices every attainable payoff. If , the indicator functions of individual states are attainable, so these prices determine every uniquely.
If is proper, choose . Since , . For sufficiently small , both and have strictly positive entries, sum to one, and give the same pairings with every asset payoff. They are distinct equivalent martingale measures. Therefore market completeness is equivalent to uniqueness of the equivalent martingale measure.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 iii Paper 32 1 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
We prove exhaustiveness, including existence of the positive density when neither form of arbitrage occurs. Use the subspace from part (a)(ii), and considerThis is a nonempty convex cone closed under positive scaling: supplies one element and guarantees weighted integrability even when itself has no first moment. Crucially, is relatively open in ; it need not be closed.
To prove openness at a point , put . The vectors , for bounded real measurable , span . Indeed, a vector orthogonal to all of them would satisfy for every such , forcing almost surely. Since , this says . Choose finitely many bounded for which form a basis of . For coefficients sufficiently small,This gives a relative neighbourhood of . It also proves the openness step behind the strictly positive barycentre cone lemma without assuming a closed moment cone.
If , the second arbitrage form was already constructed. If , the separation of a point and an open convex set, applied inside the finite-dimensional space , gives a nonzero with . Positive scaling in the cone forcesWe claim almost surely. Otherwise has positive probability, and the admissible positive weights givecontradicting the separation inequality. Since is nonzero, cannot vanish almost surely; thus it is strictly positive on an event of positive probability. This is the first arbitrage form.
Consequently absence of both forms forces , which supplies the required . Conversely either form excludes every such density by part (a). We have proved exactly one of arbitrage or a strictly positive pricing density holds. If , the same argument reduces to the elementary cases and , so no nondegeneracy assumption has been hidden.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 iii Paper 41 1 Solution 2026-10-14
We prove the positive state-price density alternative using finite-dimensional convex cones. Put and defineAll displayed expectations are finite, since . The set is a convex cone, so is a closed convex cone. A vector is nonnegative on exactly when almost surely. Indeed, one direction follows by taking every nonnegative bounded test weight ; for the other direction, if on a set of positive probability, take its indicator as to obtain a strictly negative expectation. This also identifies as the closed cone generated by the support of a probability distribution of .
The three cases , , and are treated below. They give respectively a negative-cost separating portfolio, a supporting zero-cost portfolio with a strictly positive payoff on an event of positive probability, or the required positive pricing weight. Thus the alternatives are exhaustive.
They are mutually exclusive. If with and a portfolio has nonnegative payoff, then . A negative initial cost is impossible. If the payoff is strictly positive with positive probability, this expectation is strictly positive, so nonpositive initial cost is impossible too. The given weighted integrability permits taking the expectation of this scalar product.
In a one-period market, is the portfolio's initial cost and its terminal value. The first two cases are investment-consumption arbitrage: nonnegative wealth can be taken out at both dates, with a strict benefit at one of them. If a strictly positive bank account is traded, any negative initial cost can be invested in it, converting the opportunity into a zero-cost arbitrage with nonnegative terminal payoff and positive payoff with positive probability.
In the third case, is a strictly positive state-price density. If a traded numéraire has price and terminal value , its pricing identity is . ConsequentlyThe density has mean one and is strictly positive, so is equivalent to the physical measure. Thus discounted asset prices are martingales in the one-period sense. This is the fundamental theorem of asset pricing formulation of absence of arbitrage; normalization to a probability measure uses the positive traded numéraire, not an unsupported assumption that .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 iii Paper 9 3 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Write and change coordinates so that its John ellipsoid is , the Euclidean unit ball. Then the standard symmetric-body inequalities areWe give the contact argument underlying the construction. The John contact decomposition provides unit contact vectors and positive numbers such thatThe last inequality follows because the supporting hyperplane of at must also support the contained Euclidean unit ball, hence has normal . For completeness, the decomposition follows from maximal volume as follows. If were not in the convex cone generated by at contact points, finite-dimensional separation would give a symmetric matrix with and at every contact. Subtract for small , retaining positive trace and obtaining strict negative values. For small , the support function is less than near all contact directions. On the compact complement of those neighbourhoods, has a positive minimum, so the perturbed ellipsoid remains inside there too. But its determinant is , contradicting maximum volume. The cone is closed: its generating contact matrices form a compact set of trace , so bounded traces bound their nonnegative coefficient sums. Finite-dimensional convexity then supplies finitely many contacts in the decomposition. Finally, for the identity gives , proving the second containment above.
Construct an orthonormal basis recursively. After have been chosen, let be their orthogonal complement. The orthogonal projection satisfiesAs , some contact satisfies . Choose . This works through and givesIn particular, for .
Keep the contact vectors used for this basis. They lie in . Therefore, if , then andFor a standard Gaussian random vector in these coordinates, put . These centered Gaussian random variables have , and .
Here is a proof of the Sudakov-Fernique inequality needed for this finite family. Let with independent standard Gaussian random variables , so that for . Take independently and useThe Hessian is . Along , Gaussian integration by parts givesIndeed, the one-dimensional identity follows by integrating the standard Gaussian density by parts, and applying it to a linear representation of these Gaussian vectors gives the covariance formula used here. Since , letting yields .
To estimate that last maximum, integrating the Gaussian density on gives for an absolute . With , independence showsIts negative part has expectation at most . Hence for all sufficiently large , and adjusting covers every ; for these finitely many cases the expectation is strictly positive. For , . For use one contact vector and ; for the requested right side is zero. Thusfor an absolute , independent of both dimension and the norm.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 iii Paper 9 5 ii Solution 2026-10-14
Fix and a finite epsilon-net in . Choose a Borel map with , for example the nearest point with ties broken by index. Its cells give discrete probability measures with masses and . LetThe feasible set is nonempty and compact, so the minimum exists. Pushing any coupling forward by changes its cost by at most , hence . Conversely, lift a discrete coupling by the measureTerms with zero row or column masses vanish. This lift has marginals , and its cost differs by at most . Therefore
Here is the finite linear programming duality proof. Write and consider the convex coneIt is closed and finitely generated. One elementary justification of closedness is to reduce each nonnegative representation to linearly independent generators, eliminating a coefficient along any linear dependence; after choosing a subsequence using the same subset of generators, their independent coordinates have bounded, convergent coefficients whenever the represented vectors converge. For , the point lies outside . Separation from this closed convex cone gives coefficients withIf , summing the middle inequalities against any feasible contradicts the last one. Thus , and , obey with dual objective greater than . The weak inequality already proved gives the reverse bound. Letting proves finite strong duality.
Reduce this discrete dual to a single Lipschitz function. For a feasible pair put . The triangle inequality gives , while and . ConsequentlyConversely, any -Lipschitz vector gives a feasible pair . Adding a constant leaves its objective unchanged, so impose . The resulting feasible set is compact, and its maximum is .
For a maximizing vector, the McShane extension theorem has the following explicit proof in this situation. DefineThe triangle inequality proves that this extension is -Lipschitz, and the discrete Lipschitz condition makes . Thus is a continuous feasible pair. Because ,Letting , together with part i, proves . The infimum defining is also attained: the set of couplings is a closed subset of the compact space of probability measures on , and integrating the continuous cost is continuous for the weak-star topology.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 iii Paper 38 1 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Let the finite primal supremum be . First it is attained. The setis a finitely generated cone, hence closed by the argument in the root Solution. For a sequence of primal feasible points whose values approach , the pairs belong to . Their limit therefore belongs to . It gives a feasible point with , so necessarily .
Let index the tight primal inequalities at and let index its zero coordinates. Consider the closed convex cone generated by for and for . If were outside this cone, separation from a closed convex cone would give a direction withFor sufficiently small positive , remains a feasible point: the active constraints have the required signs, and every inactive constraint retains its positive slack. Its larger objective contradicts optimality. Therefore there are , supported on , and , supported on , such thatThis makes a dual feasible point. Moreover, the support restrictions giveTogether with weak duality, this proves strong duality and dual attainment:
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 iii Paper 38 1 Solution 2026-10-14
The dual linear program is the minimization problemIndeed, for the optimization Lagrangian bounds the primal objective above on its feasible points. Its supremum over is finite precisely when , and then equals . The two labelled parts below establish the relevant weak duality and strong duality conclusions.
For the subsequent infeasibility argument, introduce nonnegative slack variables and the convex coneThis is generated by the columns of and the coordinate vectors. Here is why this finitely generated cone is closed. Any representation with a minimal number of positive coefficients uses linearly independent generators: otherwise subtract a suitable multiple of a dependence until one positive coefficient vanishes, preserving nonnegativity. For each fixed independent selection of generators, its nonnegative combinations form a closed set, because the inverse coordinate map on its span is continuous. There are finitely many selections, so their union is closed. This is the closedness of finitely generated cones used in Farkas' lemma.
When the primal linear program is infeasible, . Let be the nearest point of to , and set . The minimizing property gives for every . Taking gives . ConsequentlyIn particular and . Rescaling by the positive number produces the requested Farkas' lemma certificate:Now a feasible point of the relaxed inequalities would satisfySince , the sum of the nonnegative is positive. Thus robust infeasibility under uniform constraint relaxation givesThe ellipsoid method makes progress by reducing the volume of a containing ellipsoid. A nonempty linear polyhedron may have empty interior, so small volume alone cannot certify that the original system is infeasible. Relaxing the inequalities remedies this difficulty, but must not make an infeasible system appear feasible. The displayed positive gap proves exactly that sufficiently small relaxations preserve infeasibility. For rational input, determinant bounds give a Farkas' lemma certificate of polynomial encoding length, so a sufficiently small rational relaxation can be chosen from the input encoding length. Together with a bounding box and bounds on the volume of a relaxed feasible system, this lets the ellipsoid method distinguish infeasibility from a feasible system of very small or zero original volume in polynomial time. The certificate argument alone does not assert a polynomial precision bound for arbitrary unencoded real coefficients.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 134 3 iii d Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Choose as in (c). Thenis the sum of a nef divisor and an ample real divisor. The nef-plus-ample ampleness lemma givesFor clarity, this last lemma follows from Kleiman's criterion and the convex cone property: if is an interior point of the nef cone and lies in that cone, translating a small neighbourhood of by stays in the cone. Thus remains in its interior, which is the ample cone on a projective scheme.
The complete argument proves the real Nakai–Moishezon criterion rather than assuming it: curve positivity gives nefness, rational approximation and a proved section-count inequality give bigness, induction and the finite-support argument give a uniform ample subtraction, and the nef-plus-ample lemma concludes ampleness. The zero-dimensional case is automatic, and ampleness on reduced components handles reducibility and nilpotents.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 339 1 e Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
For a convex cone in an inner product space, use the nonnegative-pairing conventionHere the pairing is the Frobenius inner product on real symmetric matrices. Let be the conic hull of the nonnegative rank-one matrices , and let . For , . This extends to conic combinations, and by continuity to their limits. Hence .
For the converse, if , separation from a closed convex cone supplies a symmetric withIn particular for every , so . The negative pairing then excludes from . ThereforeThe same generator test gives . This is the duality of copositive and completely positive cones; the next argument removes the closure.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 139 3 vi Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
The space of real numerical divisor classes is . Write any big class as , with an ample real divisor and effective. For a sufficiently small perturbation , the class remains in the open ample cone, so remains big by part (v). Thus is open. Positive scaling and addition preserve the ample-plus-effective expression, so it is a convex cone.
For , fix a very ample divisor . The linear functional is strictly positive on every big class: the ample part contributes positively and the effective part nonnegatively. No nonzero linear subspace can be contained in this cone, since it would contain both and . In particular the zero class is not big in positive dimension. When , , so there is no positive-dimensional subspace to consider. Therefore