Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2023 / Paper 1 / 6

For a real symmetric matrix $A$, find its real eigenvalues from $\det (A-\lambda I)=0$, then solve $(A-\lambda I)v=0$ for the corresponding eigenspaces. Distinct eigenspaces are orthogonal. Within each repeated eigenspace, apply the Gram-Schmidt process and normalize to obtain an orthonormal basis of eigenvectors.

Put these vectors in the columns of $O$. The spectral theorem for real symmetric matrices guarantees a full basis, so $O^{T}O=I$ andThis is the orthogonal diagonalization of $A$ and the associated orthogonal change of coordinates.

The quadratic form has real symmetric matrixIts unit eigenvectors can be chosen as $e_u=(1,1,0)/\sqrt{2}$ with eigenvalue $1$, and $e_v=(1,-1,0)/\sqrt{2}$, $e_w=(0,0,1)$ with eigenvalue $9$. SetThe orthogonal diagonalization turns the surface equation intoIt is an ellipsoid, specifically a prolate spheroid centered at the origin. Its long principal axis is the line in direction $\boxed{(1,1,0)/\sqrt{2}}$, with semiaxis length $\boxed{3}$. Each direction in the plane perpendicular to that line has semiaxis length $\boxed{1}$; the displayed $e_v,e_w$ give one orthonormal choice of the two short principal axes. Their nonuniqueness reflects the repeated eigenvalue $9$ and rotational symmetry about the long axis.

The orthogonal change of coordinates preserves the sphere equation, giving $u^2+v^2+w^2=4$. Subtract it from the spheroid equation in part (b):Thus the intersection consists of the two circlesTheir common radius is $\boxed{\sqrt{5/8}=\sqrt{10}/4}$. Transforming their centers back to the original coordinates givesTheir planes have equations $x_1+x_2=\pm 3\sqrt{3}/2$, each with normal vector $(1,1,0)$. The difference ${\mathbf{c}}_{+}-{\mathbf{c}}_{-}$ is parallel to this normal, proving that the line joining the centers is perpendicular to both planes. This is the intersection of a prolate spheroid and a concentric sphere in the regime between the short and long semiaxes.