Past exam of the groups and representations course of the University of Oxford 2021 1 e Solution 2026-10-25
Write a homogeneous quadratic polynomial as . Invariance under forces . Invariance under then forces . Since generate the group, this proves that all homogeneous quadratic polynomial invariants areThis agrees with the single trivial representation in the symmetric square in solution; more precisely, coordinate polynomials lie in the symmetric square of the dual representation, which here is equivalent to . If “quadratic” permits terms of smaller degree, arbitrary constants can be added. There are no invariant linear terms because negates every linear polynomial.