Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2001 / iii / Paper 1 / 2 / b / iv / Solution

Every unitary matrix is unitarily diagonalizable. Part (ii) therefore proves the stronger matrix statement $\varphi (A(t))=I$, not merely a statement about its eigenvalues. The kernel of a group homomorphism is a normal subgroup, and it contains every upper unipotent. By part (iii) their normal closure is the entire group. ThusThis proves the triviality of finite-dimensional unitary representations of SL2R. In fact the argument used only the algebraic homomorphism property and finite-dimensional unitarity; it did not need continuity.