Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 iii Paper 327 2 Solution 2026-09-28
The space of test functions isA sequence converges to in when all supports lie eventually in one compact set andfor every multi-index . A distribution is a linear functional such that, for every compact , there are and withwhenever . Convergence in is pointwise convergence on test functions.
Continuity plainly implies sequential continuity. Conversely, suppose the linear form is sequentially continuous but the displayed estimate fails for some compact . For every , choose supported in such thatThen in , while , a contradiction. Hence the seminorm estimate holds on every compact set and .
For a translation vector and a multi-index , defineThese definitions extend ordinary translation and differentiation to distributions.
If for every , differentiating its pairing at gives . Conversely, if , then for every test functionThe pairing is constant in , hence . This proves both directions of translation invariance and vanishing distributional derivative.
Finally, the distributional differentiation obeys the linear chain rule under the linear coordinates and . Thusand likewiseas distributions. Adding the two identities givesthe one-dimensional wave equation; this is the low-regularity form of the travelling waves in the D'Alembert formula.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 1 19H Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-09-25
A complex representation of is a complex vector space together with a homomorphismIt is faithful when , equivalently when is injective. Every finite group has a faithful complex representation: in the regular representation, permutes the basis byand a group element fixing every basis vector must be the identity.
If is conjugate to , then is similar to . Thus the two matrices have the same spectrum, while an eigenvalue of gives the eigenvalue of . Hence
Now take a -cycle . It is conjugate to for every . Faithfulness makes have order , so its spectrum contains a nontrivial th root of unity . The preceding implication puts all the distinct valuesin the spectrum. Therefore . This is the spectrum orbit bound for a faithful symmetric-group representation.
Finally let be the group of all permutations of . It has no faithful finite-dimensional complex representation. For every , contains a subgroup generated by disjoint transpositions. In a -dimensional complex representation, commuting involutions are simultaneously diagonalizable and hence map into the group of diagonal sign matrices, which has order . A faithful restriction would require for every , an impossibility.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 1 22G Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-09-25
The closest point theorem in a Hilbert space states that every nonempty closed convex subset of a Hilbert space has a unique point nearest to any given .
Let and choose with . The parallelogram identity and convexity giveso is Cauchy. Completeness and closedness give a limit with . If were both minimizers, the same identity with their midpoint would force .
Apply the theorem to a closed subspace . For , let be closest and put . For every , minimality of at for real and imaginary gives . HenceThe intersection is zero, so .
If is a shift with orthonormal basis , it is an isometry,Conversely, suppose these three properties hold. Choose a unit vector spanning and set . Isometry makes this sequence orthonormal. Iterating the orthogonal decompositiongivesA vector orthogonal to every lies in every and is therefore zero. Thus is an orthonormal basis and , so is a shift. This is the wandering-vector characterization of a unilateral shift.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 1 30L b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
If and , thenbut strict positivity of and the nonzero vector make the left side positive. Thus the two sets cannot both be nonempty.
Conversely, suppose . The subspace is disjoint from the compact simplexStrict separation gives a vector that vanishes on and is positive on all of . The first property says ; testing the vertices of shows every . After normalization , this gives . This is Stiemke theorem in normalized form. Therefore
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 1 30L c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Let be the state-by-asset matrix of discounted gains and identify with its state vector. Fix . If , , and , thenbelongs to . The assumption and passage to the limit imply for every nonnegative .
The finite-state superhedging alternative now gives withThis residual cannot vanish identically, since then every would have . Hence it is strictly positive in at least one state, which has positive physical probability. This is the required inequality.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 1 30L d Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 1 31K a i Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Let be independent Rademacher signs. For the set of evaluation vectorsthe empirical Rademacher complexity isFor an independent sample ,
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 1 31K b ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Condition on the sample. The set of vectorshas at most distinct members, each with Euclidean norm at most . The Massart finite-class lemma, the Sauer-Shelah growth bound, and giveTaking expectations and substituting this into part (i) yields
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 1 34B a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Set . The off-diagonal Hermiticity identity holds automatically, whilemust be real. Thusis necessary and sufficient. For , put . Since the two normalized spanning vectors are linearly independent, .
The normalized eigenvectors and eigenvalues areDirect application of verifies the eigenvalue equations. Their unnormalized inner product isso the distinct eigenvectors are orthogonal, as required for a Hermitian operator. If , and every vector is an eigenvector.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 1 38B a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
The Killing vectors and give conserved specific energy and angular momentum,The normalization then rearranges toso the displayed radial energy is also constant. This is the effective potential for timelike Schwarzschild geodesics.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 1 8E a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Let be the angle from the downward vertical to the hoop's centre, measured at the suspension point, and let be the absolute angle from the downward vertical to the bead's radius from the hoop centre. The bead position is the sum of two vectors of length . Including the hoop's moment of inertia about the pivot giveswhileThus one suitable Lagrangian is
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 2 15E c ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 2 35B c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
For a mixed spin-half state, the Bloch vector formula givesPhysical consistency is equivalent to the resulting Bloch vector having length at most one.
Three linearly independent Hermitian operators do not always suffice. The operatorsare linearly independent, but the first expectation is always one and none detects the component. States with Bloch vectors and have identical expectations for all three. The correct criterion for informationally complete three-observable qubit tomography is that the three traceless parts span the Pauli space.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 2 3K a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
The original binary Hamming code has parameters , so it has codewords. Its minimum distance three makes the radius-one balls about its codewords disjoint. Each ball hasvectors, and , the size of the ambient space. Equality in the Hamming bound therefore shows that these balls partition : the code is perfect.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 3 15E a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Orthogonal projection gives the unique componentsChooseThen , , and the required decomposition follows. If one projection vanishes, its coefficient is zero and the corresponding normalized vector may be chosen arbitrarily in that subspace; the nonzero projected components remain unique.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 3 15E b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 3 15E e Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Both operators map linear combinations of and to linear combinations of the same two vectors: merely changes one coefficient, whilehas . Therefore each leaves invariant.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 3 32C Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-10-03
A vector field is a Lie symmetry whenon the equation manifold . With total derivative , the prolongation coefficients obeyFor , direct iteration givesThus .
For , invariance requires after substituting . Equating coefficients of the independent jet variables givesand the remaining terms force and . Hence the Lie algebra is spanned by
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 3 36D a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Differentiating , substituting Maxwell equations, and using the stated vector identity gives the Maxwell stress tensor conservation lawMoving the divergence to the left identifies
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 3 37B b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03