Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 iii Paper 61 1 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Interpret convergence in as uniform convergence, and work first with real continuous functions. Set , for , and put . The given barriers have one independent of both and . A positive linear operator on continuous functions preserves non-strict inequalities, so application of and evaluation at giveStrict pointwise inequalities need not remain strict under a positive operator; non-strict ones suffice. Linearity and the cancellation of the exact moments yieldSubtracting rather than therefore gives the quadratic barrier estimate for positive approximation operators:For fixed , all three moment errors tend uniformly to zero. Thus . Since was arbitrary,This completes the Korovkin theorem proof. Complex-valued functions follow by applying the real result to real and imaginary parts. Uniform convergence of the three test functions is essential to this uniform conclusion; purely pointwise test convergence should not be silently substituted.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 iii Paper 61 1 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The reproduction hypothesis gives , and . If “quadratic” were read as degree exactly two, the same identities follow by subtracting pairs of such reproduced polynomials. HenceApply the same positive-barrier argument as in part (a), now with no moment errors. It gives for every and every . ThereforeThe identity is itself a positive linear operator on continuous functions reproducing all quadratics, so existence as well as uniqueness is established. In particular, reproducing three small test functions is much stronger for a positive operator than merely fixing one finite-dimensional polynomial space without positivity.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2010 iii Paper 62 1 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The Bernstein polynomial isIt has degree at most , since cancellation can lower the degree. For , the Bernstein basis weights are nonnegative and their sum is by the binomial theorem. ConsequentlyThus the Bernstein polynomial defines a positive linear operator on continuous functions satisfying . Since , its operator norm in the supremum norm is exactly one.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2012 iii Paper 70 2 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The Bernstein polynomial is the positive weighted averageFor , the Bernstein basis weights are nonnegative and the binomial theorem gives . Hence . In particular,This is the contraction property of the positive linear operator on continuous functions defined by the Bernstein polynomial.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 69 1 ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Averaging the given Dirichlet kernels gives the normalized Fejér kernelThe geometric-series identity, or summing the sine terms, proves the second equality. At multiples of use its removable value . Therefore , andis a positive linear operator on continuous functions. The Fourier partial sums, viewed as orthogonal projections, fix , so and . They also fix and for degrees at least one, whereas annihilates them. ConsequentlyAll three periodic Korovkin theorem tests converge uniformly. Hence Fejér sums converge uniformly for every continuous periodic function: