Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2010 / Paper 1 / 6 / a / Solution

Complete the square in the quadratic form:The real invertible linear transformationsets $x_1+2x_2=y_1$, $x_2=y_2$, $\sqrt{6}{x}_3=y_3$, giving $Q_1=y_1^2+y_2^2+y_3^2$. The same transformation givesIts signature is $(2,1)$. By Sylvester's law of inertia no real invertible change of variables can turn this second form into a sum of three positive squares.