Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ia Paper 1 7B b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
Eigenvectors belonging to distinct eigenvalues are linearly independent. Under the hypothesis they therefore form a basis . For every ,because . A linear map that vanishes on a basis is zero, henceThis proves the Cayley-Hamilton theorem in the distinct-eigenvalue case.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ib Paper 1 1F Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
A basis of a vector space is a family of vectors that is both linearly independent and a spanning set of .
Write the given finite basis as . First, any other basis must also be finite. Each is a finite linear combination of elements of , so the union of the finitely many elements of occurring in these expressions is finite. Since spans every , it spans . If some existed, then would lie in the span of , contradicting the linear independence of . Hence ; write .
It remains to prove the elementary Steinitz exchange lemma directly. If independent vectors lie in the span of , express in terms of the . Some coefficient is nonzero, so the corresponding can be solved for in terms of and the other ; replacing it by preserves the span. Inductively, after replacing of the by , the expression for must have a nonzero coefficient on one of the unreplaced , since otherwise would be a linear combination of . That can again be replaced. There are only original vectors to replace, so .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ib Paper 2 1F Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
Let . Choose a basis of the intersection of vector subspaces, extend it to a basis of , and independently extend it to a basis of . The combined listspans the sum of vector subspaces . It is also linearly independent: a vanishing linear combination says that a combination of the belongs to , and its expression in the chosen basis of forces all its coefficients to vanish; the coefficients of the then vanish in the same way. This proves the dimension formula for a sum of subspaces
Parametrize the two linear subspaces asPutting a vector of in first forces its fourth coordinate to vanish; the remaining defining equation is then automatic. Thusand the dimension formula gives .
The linear functionalvanishes on each displayed generator of and . Its kernel is three-dimensional because , so the inclusion between two three-dimensional subspaces is equality.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2020 ib Paper 1 8F Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
The rank of a matrix is the dimension of its column space, equivalently the dimension of the image of a linear map represented by the matrix. For , the rank-nullity theorem givesAn injective endomorphism of a finite-dimensional vector space is surjective, hence invertible. By the adjugate matrix identity is invertible when ; conversely, multiplicativity of the determinant shows that an invertible has nonzero determinant. Therefore
Let be the matrix unit with its only nonzero entry at . The following matrices are all nonsingular:Indeed, is an elementary shear when , while is diagonal with one diagonal entry equal to two. Their linear span contains every except initially , because , and it then containsThus spans the -dimensional space and, having members, is a basis. This also covers , when .
Now let be a nonsingular zero-one matrix. If it had fewer than zero entries, at least two rows would contain no zero at all. Those two rows would both be the all-one row, contradicting linear independence. Hence every such matrix has at mostones. The bound is attained. Let be the all-one matrix and setwhere there are initial diagonal ones. If and , the first row equations give , while the last gives . Hence every , so is nonsingular and has exactly ones. Therefore
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2020 ii Paper 2 31D a ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
Supposethroughout the punctured neighbourhood, and let be the least index with . Part (i) implies for every . Dividing by and taking therefore givesa contradiction. Hence every vanishes and are linearly independent.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 ib Paper 2 8E b ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
We use induction on . SupposeApplying givesBy induction, every for . The eigenvalues are distinct, so for , and the original relation then gives . Thus eigenvectors with distinct eigenvalues are linearly independent.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 ib Paper 4 18H a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 ii Paper 2 13E Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-09-25
Substitution ofand integration by parts giveThus takeand require the endpoint term to vanish. Infinite contour ends must lie in sectors where , namely sectors centred on the positive and negative real and imaginary axes, each of angular width .
Let the common final segment be the positive real ray from to , and choose the initial rays from , , and to . Call the resulting contours . PutSince , for the three rows areConsequentlyUsing the Gamma function reflection identity,The initial-data vectors are therefore linearly independent, so the three contour integrals are linearly independent solutions.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ii Paper 2 13E c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Part (b) gives paths with the same endpoint but integral valuesApplying the local inverse and then continuing it shows thatSince , the first period is real and the second is purely imaginary, so they are linearly independent over . Hence is an elliptic function with two periodsIndeed, it is the Jacobi elliptic sine, and these generators give its period lattice.