Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ii Paper 1 19I b ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
The two irreducible real modules and are nonisomorphic, so the kernel-image argument from part (a), which is valid over any field, givesEvery endomorphism of the one-dimensional trivial module is scalar:
Identify the oriented plane with , so that acts by multiplication by . A real-linear map commutes with this rotation exactly when it is multiplication by a complex number. Equivalently,where is rotation through . Taking gives a nonscalar intertwining endomorphism of an irreducible real representation. This is the Failure of the scalar conclusion of Schur lemma over the real numbers.