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Mathematics course of the University of Cambridge

Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge

2026

Paper 336

Introduce the slow time $T=\epsilon t$ and write
$$
v_0=A(T)e^{i\omega t}+\overline{A(T)}e^{-i\omega t}.
$$
At leading order the relaxation equation gives
$$
Z_0=
2|A|^2
+\frac{A^2}{1+2i\omega\tau}e^{2i\omega t}
+\frac{\overline A^2}{1-2i\omega\tau}e^{-2i\omega t}
+K e^{-t/\tau}.
$$
The last term is the freely decaying initial transient; it does not alter the long-time solvability condition.

At order $\epsilon$, eliminating the resonant $e^{i\omega t}$ forcing is the <solvability condition in the method of multiple scales>. It gives
$$
\boxed{
\frac{dA}{dT}
=A\left[1-(\alpha+i\beta)|A|^2\right]},
\qquad
\alpha+i\beta
=\frac{3+4i\omega\tau}{1+2i\omega\tau}.
$$
Write $A=Re^{i\varphi}$ and let $R(0)=R_0$, $\varphi(0)=\varphi_0$. Then
$$
R'=R(1-\alpha R^2),
\qquad
\varphi'=-\beta R^2.
$$
With
$$
D(T)=1+\alpha R_0^2(e^{2T}-1),
$$
their explicit solutions are
$$
\boxed{
R(T)=\frac{R_0e^T}{\sqrt{D(T)}}},
\qquad
\boxed{
\varphi(T)=\varphi_0-\frac{\beta}{2\alpha}\log D(T)}.
$$

The complete real leading approximation, uniform for $t=O(\epsilon^{-1})$, is therefore
$$
\boxed{
v(t)\sim2R(\epsilon t)
\cos\!\left[\omega t+\varphi(\epsilon t)\right]},
$$
$$
\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
Z(t)\sim{}&
2R(\epsilon t)^2\\
&+\frac{2R(\epsilon t)^2}
{\sqrt{1+4\omega^2\tau^2}}
\cos\!\left[
2\omega t+2\varphi(\epsilon t)
-\tan^{-1}(2\omega\tau)
\right]
+K e^{-t/\tau}.
\end{aligned}}
$$
The constant $K$ is chosen from the initial value of $Z$ after subtracting the mean and second-harmonic pieces. If the initial transient is not required, set $K=0$.

Solution

Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2026 / iii / Paper 336 / 3 / Solution

Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2026 / iii / Paper 336 / 3 / Solution

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Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2026 / iii / Paper 336 / 3 / Solution

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