Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 iii Paper 82 1 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The limiting polynomial has a double root at , so two roots require a Puiseux series. For positive , put and . Substitution and dominant balance giveThus and . The two finite roots have the three-term asymptotic expansionsThis is square-root splitting of a double polynomial root. For negative , the same formulas apply with a chosen complex square root and describe a complex conjugate pair.
The third root is a divergent algebraic root in a singular perturbation. Set : the equation for is . Its nonzero limiting root is . Substituting yields and , henceAs an independent check, Vieta formulas give the sum of roots as : the two finite-root expansions sum to , giving the same large-root expansion.
Suppose a perturbed polynomial has the local form with . Dominant balance gives and . The two resulting Puiseux series split a double root; their leading displacements can be real or a complex conjugate pair. Ordinary Taylor series in cannot describe this splitting.