Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 336 2 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
First make explicit the usual method of steepest descent hypotheses: the saddle point is simple, and ; a contour deformation leads to the two descent arms with one clockwise half-indentation around the pole; and endpoints or other contour portions contribute smaller terms. The sign of the exponential matters: , so decay is toward valleys of .
Use a local analytic function as coordinate. Nondegeneracy allows an analytic square root after factoring the double zero of , so the coordinate can be chosen withThe sign of is selected by the orientation of the contour integral, with running from negative to positive real values. Matching cubic coefficients gives . The transformed amplitude therefore has the Laurent seriesThe Cauchy principal value contribution of the pole on the two real arms is zero by oddness. Its clockwise semicircular indentation contributes , since there. The regular term contributes the Gaussian integral . Consequently the simple saddle coinciding with a simple pole has the additive expansionThe remainder written here assumes the other contour contributions are negligible to that order. Otherwise the local result has to be supplemented by them. The next local correction is generically times the displayed exponential. If , it can vanish; odd Taylor terms integrate to zero between the symmetric arms. When , the leading term gives the printed asymptotic equivalence. When , asymptotic equivalence to zero is not meaningful: the additive formula is still valid and a regular saddle-point approximation may lead instead.
Nondegeneracy is necessary and is not explicitly printed. For a counterexample to the unrestricted reading, take , and . There is one critical point, but it is degenerate. Choose the contour from to , with a clockwise quarter-circle avoiding zero. Both rays are decaying valleys for . Their straight-ray contributions cancel, and the indentation gives , not . Thus the requested coefficient requires the simple saddle point and contour deformation assumptions above; the mere existence of one critical point is insufficient.