Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2007 iii Paper 13 4 i Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
We prove the following precise form of the Friedgut-Kalai sharp threshold theorem. There is an absolute such that, for a nontrivial transitive increasing event , , and , its success probability increases from to over an interval of length at mostIn particular, and , with , imply . Here denotes independent bits equal to one with probability . Symmetry means invariance under a permutation group acting transitively on the coordinates, not necessarily invariance under all coordinate permutations.
Use the allowed weighted-cube influence theorem in this exact form: an absolute exists such that, for every , , and zero-one Boolean function of mean under , some coordinate has pivotal probability at least . A coordinate's pivotal event is determined by the other coordinates and means that the two possible values of that coordinate give different outputs. This uniform form is a consequence of the weighted Kahn-Kalai-Linial theorem; it applies to nonsymmetric functions as well.
Write . Differentiating the finite product expression for , one coordinate at a time, givesThe last equality uses monotonicity, so each summand is the pivotal probability. This derives the Margulis–Russo formula in the normalization being used. Transitivity makes all the influences equal; applying the weighted influence theorem therefore yieldsNontriviality ensures throughout . Dividing and integrating the derivative of the log odds givesAt the two specified quantiles the left side is . Taking proves the window bound and, with a strict starting inequality, the asserted strict final inequality. This is the sharp threshold conclusion, rather than an assumption about a discontinuous finite- probability curve.