Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ib Paper 1 15B a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
Define the parity operator by . For the usual full-line Hamiltonian operator, or any parity-invariant operator domain and boundary conditions, an even potential gives : the second derivative is unchanged by reflection and . If , then . A nondegenerate energy eigenvalue has a one-dimensional eigenspace, so for some scalar . Since , . HenceThus the stationary state has even or odd parity. The symmetry must include the operator domain: an even potential alone would not imply this conclusion with asymmetric boundary conditions.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 103 2 b i Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
The first Young–Jucys–Murphy element is the empty sum . Applying it to the nonzero simultaneous eigenvector defining a point of the joint spectrum gives . HenceFor the remaining spectral arguments use the following local facts, without assuming the restriction branching rule for a symmetric group: consecutive eigenvalues are distinct; a difference makes act on the corresponding line as ; every other adjacent interchange gives another point of the joint spectrum in the same irreducible representation. These are the local spectral rules for Young–Jucys–Murphy elements. They follow from and the one- or two-dimensional analysis of the two neighboring eigenspaces. They are the appropriate local results used below.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 324 3 b ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Apply to the data and phase quantum registers, leaving the flag quantum ancilla untouched. This inverse needs no extra oracle assumption: the promised dyadic eigenvalues give , hence . The inverse of each controlled unitary gate used in can therefore be built from repeated uses of the supplied controlled-, and the known Hadamard gates and quantum Fourier transform gates can be reversed. Uncomputation is necessary to erase the eigenvalue label coherently. The resulting quantum state isA quantum measurement in the computational basis of the flag followed by postselection on one yieldsThis requires . For a normalized input and nonnegative eigenvalues, the success probability of positive quantum spectral filtering satisfies . In the general inequality, equality holds precisely when the input is supported on the minimum-eigenvalue eigenspace. Omitting uncomputation and discarding the phase quantum register would instead leave a mixed state with diagonal weights proportional to , rather than the desired coherent pure state.
The printed universal nonzero-success request needs a nonkernel-input hypothesis. An -qubit Hermitian operator has eigenvalues, counted with multiplicity. All are distinct, and the printed dyadic grid contains exactly possible values. They therefore occupy the entire grid, including zero: this is a multiplicity-free complete dyadic spectrum, and . Taking , , and satisfies every printed spectral promise but gives . No normalized output vector exists, so no algorithm can deliver it with nonzero probability.
For every input outside the kernel, the procedure above has , giving the requested strict bound on the meaningful domain. The corrected result is therefore exact quantum spectral filtering conditional on , with the boxed probability. This does not require knowing the input probability amplitudes or making extra copies of an unknown quantum state. Arbitrarily small nonzero support outside the kernel gives arbitrarily small success probability, and a failed flag measurement disturbs the input; fresh independent trials cannot be assumed when only one unknown physical input is supplied.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 337 3 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
For homogeneous corrections at the square boundary, integration by parts gives and . The first-derivative cross terms give and . Using and , these four contributions cancel in pairs. This proves exactly the supplied solvability condition, including the weight on its second row. Equivalently is the relevant adjoint eigenfunction for this coupled system.
At first order in the detuning, the inhomogeneous equations areInsert these right-hand sides into the verified solvability condition. One obtainsA further integration by parts, using the leading heat equation, givesHence the growth-rate solvability for conducting-square Darcy convection yieldsThe PDF prints the reciprocal of the required integral ratio. With its declared , the displayed reciprocal does not follow and is false for . Both integrals are positive for these nonzero modes. The square's Poincaré inequality gives their ratio at least , so it cannot equal its reciprocal. For , the two explicit parities give approximately for odd and for even ; the printed expression instead gives about and . These values provide direct mode-based counterexamples.
The corrected growth rate is positive for and negative for , as expected at a convection threshold. Because the critical eigenspace is two-dimensional, an arbitrary superposition generally splits into two different first-order growth rates. The specified parity modes remain independent under the detuning: the temperature linear operator preserves reflection parity, so the cross-parity projection vanishes. This justifies applying the scalar solvability condition to either listed eigenfunction; it should not be applied as a single common eigenvalue to an arbitrary mixture.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ii Paper 4 16H iii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-20
For a -regular undirected graph, its graph Laplacian is , and for any complex vector ,If , the left side is zero, hence on every edge. In a connected graph all coordinates coincide. Thus the eigenspace is exactly the constant vectors, of dimension one. Since the adjacency matrix of a graph is symmetric and diagonalizable,
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ii Paper 4 18G c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
In , interchange of the two factors commutes with SU2. On the highest-weight vector it acts by . Each irreducible summand in the Clebsch-Gordan decomposition has multiplicity one, so this sign is its scalar action on the entire summand. The symmetric square is the eigenspace and the exterior square the eigenspace. ThereforeFor instance, and . The dimensions agree respectively with and .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 106 2 b 1 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
First construct the spectral measure of a normal operator and prove the open-set assertion needed for all three numbered conclusions. The algebra generated by and is commutative because is a normal operator. The Gelfand transform identifies with . By spectral permanence for C-star algebras,is onto: its image is the spectrum of in , which is also its spectrum in . It is injective because a character is determined by its values on and , and . Thus is a homeomorphism. Apply part (a) and setThis is a projection-valued measure with andThe associated continuous functional calculus is isometric: for .
If is nonempty and relatively open, choose and a nonzero continuous supported inside , for example a small continuous bump about in the metric of . If , then , contradicting . ThereforeThis proves the claim from faithfulness of the representation rather than assuming it as part of the spectral theorem.
Now take an isolated point . Its singleton is relatively open, so . Multiplication of spectral integrals givesThus its range is contained in the eigenspace . Conversely, for in that kernel, the positive scalar spectral measure satisfiesIt follows that , and hence . ConsequentlyThe identification of this projection with the eigenspace holds even for a non-isolated ; isolation guarantees that it is nonzero.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 140 2 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Let and let and be the two eigenspaces. The involution identity gives a direct sum, sinceFor in either one of these eigenspaces, the anti-symplectic involution identity impliesso both are isotropic subspaces of a symplectic vector space. Such a subspace has dimension at most : and the nondegenerate bilinear form gives , where is the symplectic orthogonal complement. As their dimensions add to , both have dimension . Therefore
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 140 2 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
For , differentiation gives and . Thus is an anti-symplectic involution of the symplectic vector space . By part (a), its eigenspace is a Lagrangian subspace.
In the local manifold chart supplied in the question, is linear, so its fixed-point set is the intersection of the chart with this eigenspace. Therefore the fixed-point set is an embedded submanifold andEvery such tangent space has half the ambient dimension and the symplectic form vanishes on it. Hence every nonempty fixed-point set is a Lagrangian submanifold. The fixed-point set itself need not be connected.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 305 2 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
In the matrix expression, denotes a fundamental generator, whereas the component adjoint covariant derivative uses adjoint generators. With ,Using antisymmetry to write and gives exactly the component mass term. This is the gauge-boson mass matrix from an adjoint scalar.
For , the Gell-Mann matrices commute with . Their gauge bosons are therefore massless. The generators connect the first two eigenspaces to the third; the eigenvalue difference is . Directly taking the matrix trace giveswith all remaining entries zero. ThusThe factor is the canonical real-vector mass term normalization. The unbroken Lie algebra is , giving the usual description SU(2) × U(1). More precisely, the centralizer of the vacuum expectation value inside isThis global quotient refines the adjoint-Higgs breaking of SU(3) to SU(2) and U(1) without changing the local gauge boson spectrum.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 335 2 iii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Let be the measured wave scattering response> linear operator, with direct background propagation removed if present. Its time reversal operator is the positive operator . For a normalized emitted signal ,The maximizing signal is a right singular vector, equivalently an eigenvector of with its largest eigenvalue. This is a precise intensity statement independent of a scatterer model.
Under the Born approximation for scalar wave scattering, neglect interactions between point scatterers and writewhere is the receiver response to scatterer , is its illumination by the source array, and is its scattering wave amplitude. Well-resolved point scatterers have approximately orthogonal vectors and . In the ideal orthogonal limit,Thus the most reflective, geometrically weighted scatterer gives the largest eigenvalue, and its normalized steering vector gives the corresponding wave focusing signal. If illumination and reception factors are equal for all scatterers, this is precisely the scatterer with largest . Geometric size by itself is not the quantity being ranked.
Repeated adjoint time reversal acoustics is power iteration on . If its top eigenvalue is simple and the initial signal has a nonzero component along its eigenvector, thenA tied largest eigenvalue leaves a combination in the leading eigenspace, and an initial signal orthogonal to that eigenspace cannot excite it. This is the basis of the DORT method. Mere physical separation is insufficient if the array cannot resolve the scatterers; coherent steering-vector overlap or multiple scattering can mix the modes. Also, if includes unrestricted homogeneous transmission, its largest eigenvalue need not identify any individual scatterer. The correspondence concerns the resolved wave scattering response>. The ideal correspondence and selective wave focusing are analyzed by Prada and Fink.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 345 2 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Use the shallow-water approximation, a hydrostatic vertically mixed layer, a deep motionless ambient, and no ambient fluid entrainment. Particle loss changes reduced gravity but changes total layer volume only at the discarded dilute-particle order. Likewise thermal expansion changes the equation of state while the leading Boussinesq approximation retains volume conservation. DefineDepth integration of mass conservation, horizontal momentum balance, particle transport, and the heating law givesHere the integrated excess hydrostatic pressure is . There is no particle source from the bed. Bed drag and the particle contribution to inertia are neglected at this order. The equivalent variable-buoyancy shallow water equations areThe term is necessary when heating or particle loss makes the reduced gravity vary horizontally.
For , the quasilinear system hasIts characteristic polynomial factors asThus the characteristic curves have slopesOn the two repeated contact characteristic curves, the particle and heating laws are and . Writing and , the gravity-wave compatibility relations areFor and , gravity-wave right eigenvectors can be taken as . The contact eigenspace has dimension two: and , with independent . Therefore has a full set of real eigenvectors.
The system is hyperbolic throughout strict static stability, but not strictly hyperbolic because the contact speed is repeated. At the eigenvalues coalesce and this diagonalizability is lost; when the gravity-wave speeds become complex, reflecting the loss of a statically stable lower layer.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ib Paper 4 1F Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
An eigenvalue of a matrix is a scalar for which for some nonzero eigenvector . Its corresponding eigenspace is
Write . The displayed matrix is the outer product , soIts column space is contained in and is nonzero because . Hence is a rank-one matrix.
The vector is an eigenvector with eigenvalue , and every vector in the orthogonal complement has eigenvalue . ThusSince is a direct sum of these eigenspaces, has an eigenbasis and is therefore a diagonalizable.
Put and . The Pauli operators are Hermitian and satisfy and , soThus is a unitary operator. For every Pauli operator , according as commutes or anticommutes with and , expansion of gives one of or , up to the phase that makes it Hermitian. It is therefore another Pauli operator, so normalizes the Pauli group and is a Clifford operation. Finally,which is the normalized projection onto the eigenvalue- eigenspace of . Hence maps the eigenvalue- eigenspace of onto the eigenvalue- eigenspace of .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 iii Paper 324 1 b i Solution 2026-09-28
Put and . After the first Hadamard gate and the two controlled Pauli gates, the joint state isThe final Hadamard gate changes this toConditioned on ancilla outcome , the normalized data state is therefore
Write the input in the two eigenspaces of aswhere the displayed eigenstates are normalized. A direct PBC measurement giveswith probabilities and . Hence the ancilla circuit and the Pauli measurement have identical outcome distributions and conditional data states after identifying the Pauli outcome with .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2025 ia Paper 1 7A b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
With , direct expansion givesThus the eigenvalues are . Kernel calculation gives eigenspace dimensions , respectively.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 102 1 ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Let represent . Since is central, commutes with and . Over the complex number field , has an eigenvalue , and its corresponding eigenspace is invariant under all three operators. The irreducibility of therefore makes this eigenspace all of , so . Taking the trace ofgives by the cyclic property of the trace; hence .
The remaining operators and commute. Two commuting operators on a nonzero finite-dimensional complex vector space have a common eigenvector, whose span is invariant. Irreducibility therefore forces . Conversely, every pair defines a one-dimensional irreducible representation byThese are all the finite-dimensional irreducible representations.
Using the convention , the characteristic polynomial isSince for every , the only eigenvalue over the real numbers is . Solving givesThus the only eigenspace over the real numbers is the axis of the rotation.
For the given matrix , the characteristic polynomial isFor , the eigenvector equation gives ; for , it gives . Thus the eigenvalues and their corresponding eigenspaces areFor any eigenvector with eigenvalue , the vector-valued function satisfies , since its derivative is . The two displayed eigenvectors are linearly independent, so the general solution of the linear system of ordinary differential equations is
A real number is an eigenvalue of if for some nonzero vector . Its eigenspace isIt is a vector subspace because it contains and whenever and .