Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 150 1 d Solution 2026-10-03
Taking the natural logarithm of the finite Euler product and using the Taylor seriesgivesThe double series converges absolutely, and the Mertens second theorem therefore makes the right sideforExponentiating provesThis is the Mertens third theorem.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 ia Paper 1 9D b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
First suppose . Continuity of the natural logarithm gives . Part (a), applied to this sequence, yieldsApplying the continuous exponential function,If , then for every all sufficiently late are below . Splitting off the fixed initial product shows that the limsup of the geometric means is at most ; hence it is zero. This proves the geometric mean of a sequence result in all cases.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ib Paper 2 14A a ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Regularity at infinity excludes the natural logarithm and every positive radial power. ThusThe constant and the decaying coefficients remain arbitrary.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ib Paper 2 14A a i Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Regularity at the origin excludes the natural logarithm and every negative radial power. ThusThe coefficients remain arbitrary.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 iii Paper 224 4 a Solution Created 2026-09-28 Updated 2026-10-03
Put and . A relative-entropy form of the Poisson approximation bound for dependent Bernoulli variables isThe last two terms form the total correlation; they vanish when the Bernoulli variables are independent.
To prove the bound, let be the Poisson distribution with mean and let . Expanding the Kullback-Leibler divergence against this product law givesThe supplied one-dimensional estimate bounds the first sum by . Under the addition map, becomes , while the Sum of independent Poisson random variables under has the Poisson distribution with mean . The data processing inequality for relative entropy proves the displayed result.
If a bound directly in the paper's unhalved total-variation norm is desired, Pinsker's inequality also gives
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ii Paper 3 1G b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Write the Chebyshev theta function asTaking natural logarithms in part a givesand henceBecause , the right-hand side is at least for every sufficiently large integer .
Now let be sufficiently large and set using the floor function. Then and , so the monotonicity of gives
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ii Paper 3 1G c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
Suppose that the positive integer is a decisive number. For every prime number , the composite number satisfies . It therefore cannot be coprime to , so .
The product of all prime numbers below consequently divides . Taking natural logarithms givesChanging the strict endpoint can remove at most one prime term. By part b, for every sufficiently large the right-hand side is at least, for example, . This is impossible for sufficiently large , sinceThus every decisive number lies below one fixed bound, and only finitely many integers can do so.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 224 3 d Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Writing for the laws of , respectively, and using Jensen inequality for the concave natural logarithm,This is the lower-bound half of the Gibbs variational principle for relative entropy.
Here , so the Binet equation reduces toThe initial conditions becomeMultiply the differential equation by and use the chain rule:The initial conditions give . Since , cannot change sign at a finite value of . Thus on the physical branch. Separation of variables givesThereforeThe natural logarithm must be positive because . For the forward trajectory, and , so : the particle travels counterclockwise while strictly decreases.
For , it starts at , with tangent vector proportional to . Its successive crossings of the positive coordinate axis have radiiIt makes infinitely many inward turns, approaching the origin as . There is no finite-time arrival at the origin: behaves as , whose improper integral diverges. If extended backwards, it comes from infinity as .
Let . Its derivative iswhich is negative for . Also , since a positive power eventually dominates the natural logarithm. Thus the alternating series test proves convergence of .
For , , whose p-series diverges. The comparison test therefore rules out absolute convergence. The answer is conditional convergence.
By Stirling's approximation,Here and , as is seen by taking the natural logarithm. The Cauchy-Hadamard theorem gives .
For , the natural logarithm satisfies . Squaring therefore decreases its value, while . Pointwise comparison gives , soAs a check, integration by parts gives , and , consistent with this order.
Pointwise ordering of the three logarithmic integrands
. Original plot on . The natural logarithm rises from zero to one, so its square lies below it, and twice the logarithm lies above it. Integrating preserves the strict order. Details. Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2006 Paper 1 9 b i Solution Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
Put . The Taylor series of the natural logarithm gives the first four nonzero terms:The corresponding infinite series converges for .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2009 Paper 1 3 a Solution Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2009 Paper 2 7 Solution Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
Near zero the logarithm's argument is positive, so . Use the Maclaurin series of the natural logarithm:The local calculation uses for the real logarithm; the power series converges for .
For negative real , the angle lies strictly between and . On that interval, has exactly the two solutions and . Dividing by and applying the natural logarithm yieldsBoth values are negative, and the restriction excludes all further periodic sine branches.
Since , a level can occur only for . Taking its natural logarithm gives . Thus produces rectangular hyperbolas in the first and third quadrants, produces them in the second and fourth quadrants, and consists of both coordinate axes.
The gradient vanishes only at , where . The Hessian matrix there is , with negative determinant. Equivalently, while for nonzero small . Hence the only stationary point is a saddle point at on the graph; its location in the contour plane is the origin.
For positive , write . Differentiating by the chain rule givesThe natural logarithm of the constant base supplies the factor; it must not be omitted when .


