The matter density parameter at general scale factor isThe reference to the definition of in the printed part points to the wrong equation number: the needed definition is the substitution in part (b). Write , so , , andExpanding the matter growth equation as a function of scale factor first givesUsing and dividing by , we obtainwhere these primes denote derivatives with respect to . For the proposed linear cosmological density perturbation ,The left side of the differential equation, divided by , has numeratorover the common denominator . This proves the result directly. Also for every , so it is a decaying mode:It is proportional to the Hubble parameter, an instance of the Hubble parameter as a solution of the dust growth equation.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 iii Paper 310 3 c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25