Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2010 / ii / Paper 2 / 25H / i / Solution

For a regular simple closed plane curve of length $L$ enclosing area $A$, the planar isoperimetric inequality is $L^2\ge 4\pi A$, with equality precisely for a circle.

The periodic Wirtinger inequality states that an absolutely continuous $L$-periodic function $h$ of mean zero with square-integrable derivative satisfieswith equality only for a linear combination of $\sin (2\pi s/L)$ and $\cos (2\pi s/L)$. Parametrize the curve by arc length and translate its position vector $r=(x,y)$ so that both coordinate means vanish. Then $\int |r{|}^2\le L^3/(4{\pi }^2)$, since $|r^{\prime }|=1$. Green's theorem and the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality giveEquality requires a first-harmonic parametrization and equality in Cauchy-Schwarz; its radius vector is a constant multiple of the rotated unit tangent. It is therefore a circle. Conversely, a circle attains equality.