Friedgut-Kalai sharp threshold theorem 2026-10-13
There is an absolute such that any nontrivial transitive increasing event on independent bits satisfies if , , and the displayed bound holds with . A uniform weighted Kahn-Kalai-Linial theorem gives one pivotal probability at least . Transitivity makes the total influence at least . The Margulis–Russo formula identifies this with the derivative of . Integration of the derivative of its log odds proves the threshold bound.
Margulis–Russo formula Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
For the indicator of a monotone family under a p-biased product measure, the Margulis–Russo formula identifies the derivative of with the suitably normalized total influence of .
Maximum-influence logarithmic lower bound 2026-10-14
For a zero-one Boolean function on the unbiased Boolean hypercube with flip-probability influences , the displayed bound holds for sufficiently small . If it fails, write . The total influence identity puts at least half the nonconstant Fourier weight on levels . The hypercontractive weighted influence bound at then gives . Its upper bound contradicts .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 iii Paper 15 1 ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The Holder inequality gives . Substitute this into the hypercontractive weighted influence bound and multiply by to obtainas required. The version with is slightly stronger and will also be useful below.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2012 iii Paper 82 4 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Use the uniform probability measure on the Boolean hypercube. The influence of a variable is the flip probabilityThe polynomial defining is interpreted over . Flipping the first coordinate adds modulo two. This nonempty parity is balanced for , so
An explicit Tribes function works for every . Choose the largest integer with , let , and take the OR of disjoint ANDs of coordinates. Ignore the unused coordinates. Its zero probability is , between and , and a used coordinate has influenceHere by maximality. For the balance claim, gives probability ; for , gives zero probability at most , while for gives a lower bound . Only the example was requested, but these checks fix its parameters unambiguously.
For the lower bound we prove the required consequence of Beckner's inequality with constants. Write the Fourier-Walsh transform as , where and . The discrete derivative of a Boolean function is . Since takes values zero and one, takes values . Consequently Parseval's identity givesThe factor four is required for the printed convention. Also under the balance hypothesis.
The true Beckner's inequality states for , , with . Apply it with , , to , a function independent of coordinate . Its nonzero values still have magnitude . We obtainLet . For an integer , the low-degree Fourier weight satisfiesFor the high-degree part the total influence identity givesTogether these imply .
Suppose, seeking a contradiction, that , with natural logarithms. Then and . Hence . Put . The first term on the right is bounded bythe middle expression is maximized at . Moreover , since . ThusWe would have , contradicting . ThereforeThis derives the stated Kahn-Kalai-Linial theorem bound from the actual noise operator on the Boolean hypercube inequality, rather than using the desired conclusion as an input.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 168 2 iv Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
For a Boolean-valued , each discrete derivative of a Boolean function takes values in and has degree at most . If depends on coordinate , then is nonzero, so part (iii) givesSince has degree at most , the Fourier formula for total influence and Parseval identity giveIf coordinates affect , then , so . Thus is a -junta, which is the Nisan-Szegedy junta theorem.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 168 3 ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
If , monotonicity already gives , so assume . Suppose for a contradiction that . By the mean value theorem, some satisfiesThe Margulis–Russo formula identifies this derivative with the appropriately normalized total influence, so is bounded solely in terms of . The -biased Friedgut junta theorem then supplies, for any small , a Boolean -junta with and
Because is monotone, , hence when . It follows thatFor some assignment on with , therefore, . Monotonicity and imply . Choose , set , and take . Thencontradicting -quasirandomness. Thus .
Squared-influence logarithmic lower bound 2026-10-14
For a zero-one Boolean function of mean , the displayed bound holds for sufficiently large , uniformly in . If it failed, put , and split its nonconstant Fourier weight at level . The total influence bound puts at most above that level. The hypercontractive weighted influence bound with puts only below it: the conversion factor stays bounded, while . This contradicts total nonconstant weight .