Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / iii / Paper 326 / 4 / 5

Use the standard bounded linear operator setting for $K:U\to V$, so the adjoint operator $K^{\ast }:V\to U^{\ast }$ in the updates is defined on every datum. Put $q=K^{\ast }K{u}_{\lambda }$. The generalized singular vector relation is $\lambda q\in \partial J(u_{\lambda })$ with $\Vert K{u}_{\lambda }\Vert =1$ and $\lambda =J(u_{\lambda })\ge 0$. For an absolutely one-homogeneous functional, a subgradient $p$ at $u$ is characterized by $⟨p,u⟩=J(u)$ and $⟨p,v⟩\le J(v)$ for all $v$. Consequently $\lambda q$ is also a subgradient at every positive multiple of $u_{\lambda }$, and $bq\in \partial J(0)$ for every $0\le b\le \lambda$.

Use the initialization $u^0=p^0=0$ and start the first update at $k=0$; the PDF lists $k=1,2,\dots$ despite specifying only index-zero initial data. Suppose $p^k=b_{k}q$ with $0\le b_k\le \lambda$. DefineIf it is positive, $u^{k+1}=c_{k+1}{u}_{\lambda }$ and $p^{k+1}=\lambda q$ satisfy the optimality equation and the dual update. If it is zero, take $u^{k+1}=0$ and $p^{k+1}=(b_k+\gamma /\alpha )q\in \partial J(0)$. Thus this compatible branch hasInduction proves the finite termination of Bregman iteration on a singular vector formulasOnce the dual coefficient reaches $\lambda$, the next reconstruction is $\gamma u_{\lambda }$. Therefore a guaranteed stopping index for this branch isThe formulas also cover $\lambda =0$, where exact reconstruction occurs at the first update. The subgradient conditions are sufficient for global minimization because each objective is convex.

There is a genuine uniqueness issue in the printed claim about arbitrary iterates. Strict convexity of data fidelity in $Ku$ ensures that any two minimizers at a given step have the same image under $K$. Induction therefore makes every minimizer branch have the same dual variables and attain exact data at the stated finite index. It does not make their states equal to the specified $\gamma u_{\lambda }$ if $K$ has a null space.

For a counterexample take $U={\mathbb{R}}^2$, $V=\mathbb{R}$, $K(x,y)=x$, $J(x,y)=|x|$, $u_{\lambda }=(1,0)$, and $\lambda =1$. Every step leaves $y$ completely unconstrained. Choosing the minimizing state's second coordinate to be $k$ gives valid updates and subgradients but never reaches $(\gamma ,0)$ and does not converge as a state sequence. Thus finite exact-data recovery holds for all minimizer branches; exact recovery of the stated vector needs uniqueness or the aligned branch. If $K$ is injective, equal reconstructed data identify the state, and the literal vector conclusion follows.