Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 340 1 d Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
The answer is no with the integer-translation and dilation conventions of this multiresolution analysis. The orthonormal basis axiom forces to consist of functions constant on the cells . Dilation forces to consist of functions constant on . However, the proposed scaling function changes value at , in the interior of the cell . It is therefore not in , contradicting nesting:Changing values at endpoints makes no difference in . The usual Haar wavelet instead uses the scaling function ; an arbitrary half-unit translation does not preserve the required refinement grid.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 340 1 e Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
With vanishing moments, a wavelet annihilates every polynomial of degree below . A Taylor polynomial then explains small wavelet coefficients on smooth parts of a signal, and efficient best N-term approximation. Compact support localizes coefficients near a feature, limits the number of boundary interactions, and permits a finite filter implementation. Increasing the number of vanishing moments while keeping an orthonormal basis generally requires a larger support of a function: a finite orthonormal filter with vanishing moments needs at least taps, and the minimal-support Daubechies wavelet has support length in the standard normalization.
The Haar wavelet, , has one vanishing moment, unit support length and discontinuities. It is inexpensive and particularly suitable for piecewise constant data with sharp jumps. A Daubechies wavelet of a larger order has more vanishing moments and a longer finite filter; sufficiently large orders also provide greater regularity. It is useful when smooth trends should yield small coefficients, although the wider support of a function can spread a jump across more coefficients. Choose Haar for compact jump localization; choose a higher-order Daubechies wavelet for smooth polynomial structure. More vanishing moments alone does not make every low-order wavelet highly differentiable.