Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2004 ib Paper 3 22A Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 ib Paper 4 8F Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 ib Paper 3 19D Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2009 ib Paper 3 19C Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 ib Paper 2 19C Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
For the Peano kernel theorem, the integral Taylor remainder isHere . The error functional must be linear, vanish on every polynomial of degree at most , and permit its action to be interchanged with this remainder integral. The last regularity condition holds for the finite combinations of point evaluations and derivative evaluations used below, by applying the corresponding differentiated remainder formula. Under these conditions the polynomial terms vanish, yielding
For the three-point asymmetric second-derivative formula, choose the error convention . Exactness on giveshenceApplying to , for almost every , gives the Peano kernelThe value at is immaterial to the integral. The sketch rises from zero through at one to the left limit at two, jumps down to the right limit , and then rises to zero at three.
The sharp error constants for a Peano kernel are the corresponding integral-operator norms. HereAs ,Indeed, and . They are best possible even for : for , choose continuous nonnegative third derivatives concentrated just left of two with unit integral; for , approximate the sign of by continuous functions of supremum norm one. Integrating any such third derivative three times supplies an admissible , and the resulting ratios approach the stated constants.
Peano kernel for the asymmetric three-point second derivative, showing its jump at two and the positive and negative regions controlling sharp error bounds
. Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 ib Paper 3 19D c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
The Peano kernel theorem says that if a continuous linear error functional annihilates all polynomials of degree less than and permits the required interchange with integration, then for ,It follows by applying to the integral-remainder Taylor formula with integral remainder. Here choose andThis functional annihilates constants and linear functions (indeed quadratics too), and its Peano kernel isThus and . The integral representation givesFor the first inequality, continuous functions with can approximate away from its zeros, making arbitrarily close to . Such derivatives integrate twice to admissible functions, proving no smaller works. For the second, use continuous of norm one concentrated near or , where , with the sign of there. This makes approach , proving optimality of .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ib Paper 3 19C Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
Let be the distinct interior roots of where its sign changes, and put . If , orthogonality gives . But has constant sign on , apart from its isolated zeros, because every sign change has been canceled. It is not identically zero, and the positive weight makes its integral nonzero, a contradiction. Thus . Degree forces exactly distinct simple roots, all inside .
For distinct nodes, let . Lagrange interpolation polynomial gives for every polynomial of degree at most . Integrating this identity proves exactness with .
For the Gaussian quadrature nodes, divide any as , with . The integral of vanishes by orthogonality, and its nodal values vanish because . The remaining polynomial is integrated exactly by the preceding interpolation result. HenceIts weights are positive: exactness applied to gives .
Define the error functional . It annihilates polynomials of degree at most . For , the Peano kernel theorem giveswhere a formal Peano kernel with the normalization made explicit isNo evaluation of is needed. The supplied inner product presupposes an integrable positive weight on the finite interval, so the integral and point-evaluation error functional is bounded on continuous functions.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 ib Paper 3 19D Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
Repeated integration by parts inproduces the first terms of the Taylor polynomial and leaves , proving the integral remainder in Taylor theoremApply the linear functional to this identity. It annihilates the Taylor polynomial, and commuting it with integration gives the Peano kernel theorem
For the midpoint quadrature rule on , , so . Its Peano kernel isFor , the formula givesagreeing with .
Matching the monomials gives . With error defined as the true derivative minus this approximation, its Peano kernel is on . The derivative evaluation causes a jump at two. Applying the Peano kernel theorem gives .
