Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 209 1 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Put , , and . The deterministic integrand in the Itô integral implies that the increments are independent random variables with normal distributions . The Gaussian fourth moment givesThese identities include . Since the summands of are centered and independent, all cross terms in its second moment vanish. Consequently,Thus works for every observation partition. The last step uses the total interval length, rather than assuming equally spaced observations.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 210 1 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
For each ball, the event of landing in is a Bernoulli distribution trial. Under the null hypothesis its probability is . Under the selected alternative , its probability is . The placements are independent random variables conditional on that selected index, so the count has the binomial distribution:The second assertion concerns , rather than the unconditional mixture model .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 210 1 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
The Hoeffding lemma for a Bernoulli distribution variable gives . Multiplication of the moment-generating functions of the independent random variables gives . Thus the centered count is a sub-Gaussian random variable with variance proxy . The Chernoff bound, optimized at , givesThe same estimate holds for the lower tail by applying the Chernoff bound to . No independence between different bin counts is needed.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 210 2 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Because the scalar signal and the noise vector are independent random variables with normal distributions, their sum is a Gaussian random vector. Its expected value is zero, and the covariance matrix isThus this is a rank-one covariance spike. Each summand has expected value , so . Here the empirical matrix is an uncentered empirical second-moment matrix; because the population expected value is known to be zero, it is an unbiased estimator of the covariance matrix. The TeX's apparent factorial denominator is a transcription error.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 210 2 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Use the convention for the centered sub-Gaussian random variable. Applying the two-sided Chernoff bound to gives . Since , this already supplies the requested bound:For averages of independent random variables, the stronger useful statement is that the centered square of a sub-Gaussian random variable is a sub-exponential random variable. The Bernstein bound for independent sub-exponential variables then give for a universal positive . These are the concentration theorems used for quadratic scan statistics.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 129 4 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Uniform expectations require nonempty finite sets; assume this throughout the analytic argument. For real-valued functions on , define the box norm byAll four variables are sampled as independent random variables with replacement, so repeated coordinates are included. The defining fourth power equalsIf it vanishes, every summand vanishes. In particular, the terms give for each , so . Absolute homogeneity of a norm follows directly: .
For the triangle inequality, prove the mixed box Cauchy-Schwarz inequality. WriteSeparating the two averages and applying the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality in givesExpanding the square and reversing the order of finite sums,by a second Cauchy-Schwarz inequality. Thus . Expand into its sixteen multilinear terms and apply this bound to each term. Their upper bounds sum to . Taking fourth roots yields the triangle inequality. Together with definiteness of a norm and absolute homogeneity of a norm, this proves the box norm is a norm. Complex functions require conjugates and are outside the printed real-valued convention.
For the bilinear correlation bound for the box norm, use the normalized L2 norm: let and , . The Cauchy-Schwarz inequality in givesThe remaining factor is . By the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality in , its magnitude is at mostTaking square roots proves
For the tripartite graph, assume its parts are nonempty and write for its adjacency indicator functions. Let , so . The normalized triangle count isThe constant-degree hypothesis is exactly for each . Therefore the contribution of the constant isFor fixed , apply the bilinear correlation bound for the box norm with and . Since these are indicator functions, and , the fraction of adjacent to . Averaging and applying the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality in gives the sharper triangle counting with one box-uniform pair and constant opposite degree estimateMultiplying by yieldsThe middle bound also handles or , when the triangle count is zero.
To connect explicitly with the suggested expansion, put , . Both have overall mean zero, and for every . Consequently ; all terms with constant reduce to . The terms containing combine into the single error just estimated. This is where the exact degree assumption is used. If any part is empty the triangle count itself is zero, but the printed uniform expectations and edge density of a bipartite graph values would be undefined; the nonempty-parts convention must therefore be stated rather than dividing by zero.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 206 1 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
The negative binomial regression assumes independent random variables conditional on their recorded days, withThe logarithmic link function applies to the conditional expectation, not to the observed count. The displayed maximum-likelihood estimates areand the dispersion parameter for the fitted family is one. Thus the fitted variance is , practically the Poisson distribution variance at these means.
Increasing the day by one multiplies the conditional expectation by , a decrease of about . Comparing days 365 and 1 gives . The negative slope has Wald statistic approximately , so under the stated model assumptions there is very strong evidence of a decreasing conditional mean:This is an association with calendar day, not a causal effect established by the regression. The printed negative-binomial residual deviance is on residual degrees of freedom, which is a reason to investigate the adequacy of the assumed count model and dependence structure. In particular, the small reported slope standard error cannot make a misspecified model reliable.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 206 2 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
For independent random variables , the full logistic regression has linear predictorLayout A is the reference level in a regression factor. The smaller model sets , leaving the same logit link and the price predictor. In either caseThe saturated statistical model allows a separate probability per observation; its maximizing probabilities are , with log-likelihood zero under . Hence the binomial deviance for either fitted model isEquivalently, write the summands as . The fitted probabilities differ between the two models, but the definition of binomial deviance is the same. A residual deviance for individual binary data need not itself have an accurate chi-squared distribution approximation; the nested-model difference used next has a different asymptotic justification.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 201 3 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
The tail sigma-algebra isIts events depend only on arbitrarily late coordinates. The Kolmogorov zero-one law states that for a sequence of independent random variables, every tail event has probability zero or one:Identical probability distributions and integrability are not required for the Kolmogorov zero-one law.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 201 5 d Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Taking in (c) and using that has no atom at givesThis is the distribution function of the Brownian first-passage time; (b) ensures that it is a proper probability distribution. Comparing these distribution functions gives the Brownian scaling identity for .
For an integer , set and successively hit the levels . The Strong Markov property at these finite stopping times and spatial translation imply thatare independent random variables, each with the probability distribution of . Thus, for independent copies ,ThereforeThe paper's definition is the strictly stable distribution convention, with no centering term, a special case of a stable distribution.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 ii Paper 4 27J Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
Let be the natural filtration. An integer-valued random variable is a stopping time with respect to whenThus whether one has stopped by time can be decided from the first observations, without seeing future variables. Equivalently, .
Write the stopped sum asThe event depends only on , so its indicator and are independent random variables. Since and , Tonelli theorem givesWe may consequently exchange expectation and summation. Using the tail-sum formula for proves Wald's equation:
For the renewal process, put and . The random variable is a stopping time. Since , Wald's equation givesand hence
For , set and . Wald's equation still applies to the stopping time and the independent variables . Because ,ThereforeBy the monotone convergence theorem, as . Combining the bounds proves the elementary renewal theorem
For a fixed word over equally likely symbols, the waiting time for a word in independent uniform symbols has mean , where runs through the lengths of the borders of a word, including the full word. The word
lava' has no proper nonempty border, so
$$
\boxed{\mathbb E\tau_{\mathtt{lava}}=100^4=100\,000\,000}.
$$
The word aa' has borders of lengths and , soFor a direct check, let be the expected remaining time with no trailing a' and $E_1$ with one trailing a'. Thenwhich gives . Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ia Paper 2 11F a iii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
The covariance matrix isIf , the moment-generating function in part (ii) factors into the product of the two marginal moment-generating functions. Thus and are independent random variables; this is the independence of uncorrelated jointly normal variables.
By bilinearity of covariance,ChooseThen is bivariate normal by part (i) and has zero covariance, so is a normal random variable independent of . Hence .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ib Paper 4 19H b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
For this model, the Gauss-Markov theorem states that is the unique minimum-variance linear unbiased estimator of : ifis unbiased for every , then .
Indeed,so unbiasedness is equivalent to . WriteThe constraint becomes . Since the errors are independent with common variance ,Equality holds exactly when every , which gives and .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ib Paper 4 9H b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
By independence of the two simple random walks, linearity of expectation, and symmetry of their transition probabilities,The Chapman-Kolmogorov equation identifies the inner sum as , soA simple random walk on the integer line can return to only at an even time. Since it is recurrent at , part (a) givesTherefore .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 147 4 Solution 2026-10-03
Assume first that is a cap set. Over the finite field , defineSince is one at and zero at , is the indicator function of . If satisfy this equation, then either they are all equal or they are three distinct points; the latter is excluded. Thus is a diagonal tensor with every diagonal entry equal to one, and the slice rank of a diagonal tensor gives
Expand as a polynomial. Every variable has exponent at most two, and every monomial has total degree at most . Splitting a monomial's degree among its -, -, and -blocks, at least one block has degree at most . Assign each monomial to one such block and group together terms with the same low-degree block monomial. Each group is one slice, sowhereIf , then the are independent random variables uniformly distributed on andby the given tail probability bound. Consequently every cap set satisfies
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ii Paper 1 13J a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
Let be the number of ice creams in price category and score category . The fitted Poisson regression assumes that the nine counts are independent random variables withwhere the logarithmic link function is used and excellent is the reference level in a regression factor, so . Equivalently,This is the independence log-linear model for a two-way contingency table: price and score have main effects but no interaction.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ii Paper 2 26K b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
Saying that has law means that is the pushforward measureFor a real random variable, is a probability measure on .
The pair consists of independent random variables whenfor every pair of Borel sets ; equivalently, their joint law is the product of their marginal laws.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ii Paper 3 3G ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
At , the output of the binary symmetric channel is independent of its input. It conveys no mutual information, and therefore
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ii Paper 4 13J a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
Conditional on the observed colleges, the stochastic block model assumes that the friendship indicators are independent random variables. For arbitrary linear predictors , their Bernoulli distribution likelihood isThus the three requested likelihoods are
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ii Paper 4 27K a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
For every Borel set , letbe its random point count. A Non-homogeneous Poisson point process with intensity function of a point process is characterized by:
- is finite almost surely for every bounded Borel set ;
- for every bounded Borel set ,
- the counts are independent random variables whenever are pairwise disjoint bounded Borel sets.
Because has a density with respect to Lebesgue measure, it is atomless, so the process is simple: almost surely no location occurs more than once.