Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / ia / Paper 4 / 4B / Solution

Use the inverse Lorentz transformationAlong the particle's worldline $d{x}^{\prime }=u^{\prime }d{t}^{\prime }$, so the relativistic velocity-addition formula isFor subluminal collinear velocities, put $u/c=\tanh {\phi }_u$, $u^{\prime }/c=\tanh {\phi }_{u^{\prime }}$ and $v/c=\tanh {\phi }_v$. The hyperbolic tangent addition formula, obtained by dividing the supplied sine/cosine addition formulas, givesBecause hyperbolic tangent is injective on the real line,Thus rapidity is additive even though velocity is not.

Each positive increment in the instantaneous rest frame adds the same rapidity $\alpha =\mathrm{artanh}(1/2)=\frac{1}{2}\log 3$. Starting from zero rapidity, iterated collinear boosts with equal rapidity giveEvery finite number of increments leaves $u_n<c$; the speed of light is approached as $n\to \infty$.