Topics (282k) Articles (291k) Users (353) Discussions (237) Comments (383) Files (6k) New article
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ii Paper 1 19F a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
The permutation representation has basis , , with . Its matrix is a permutation matrix, whose diagonal entry is one exactly at fixed points. Therefore
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ii Paper 1 15C c Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Between collisions the momentum is or . In phase space the cycle runs right along the upper horizontal segment from to , jumps vertically to at the right wall, runs left along the lower segment, and jumps back at the left wall. The jumps have . ThereforeDifferentiation gives , exactly the out-and-back period. Under slow wall motion the action is the adiabatic invariant; a convention using is equivalent. HenceCompression raises the energy and expansion lowers it, provided the wall speed is small compared with the particle speed and the change per cycle is small.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ii Paper 1 15C b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
The invariant is phase-space volume, or area for one degree of freedom. It does not require an autonomous Hamiltonian. The flow vector has divergence whenever the mixed derivatives agree. If is the Jacobian of the flow with respect to initial coordinates, then . Differentiating its determinant givesThus the change-of-variables formula shows that any region carried by the flow retains its area. This proves Liouville theorem in Hamiltonian mechanics even when depends on time.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ii Paper 1 15C a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Vary and independently, fixing the endpoint positions. Integration by parts givesThe boundary term vanishes, so arbitrary interior variations implyIn the Lagrangian principle only is varied independently, and ; here positions and momenta are independent paths in phase space. The extremality condition is stationarity of the action, not necessarily a minimum. Along Hamiltonian motion,so an explicitly time-independent Hamiltonian is conserved.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ii Paper 1 14E b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Write and . Along a trajectory,Use the unperturbed orbit to compute the leading energy change over one period:Zero averaged energy change gives the nonzero amplitudeThe supplied sign condition makes this real and nonzero. The averaged amplitude equation is , whose derivative at that root is . Its nonzero derivative also makes the root persist as an isolated periodic orbit for sufficiently small positive .
Directly, the planar divergence is . On the leading orbit its integral over is . ThusThe cycle is attracting for and repelling for . Both sign possibilities are allowed by .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ii Paper 1 14E a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Linearizing about the orbit gives , where . The fundamental matrix therefore satisfiesThe Floquet multipliers are the eigenvalues of the monodromy matrix . Differentiating the orbit equation shows that its tangent solves the variational equation. Since , one multiplier is one.
For an invertible fundamental matrix, differentiating the determinant gives . Integration from the identity yields . The determinant is the product of the two multipliers, so the other is
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ii Paper 1 11G ii Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ii Paper 1 11G i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Choose continuous arguments along the parametrized circle. Their sum is a continuous argument of the product, because multiplication multiplies moduli and adds arguments. Subtracting endpoint values gives
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ii Paper 1 10D b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Assume the present universe is expanding, . The stated energy inequality and the Raychaudhuri equation imply wherever . Therefore for in that positive branch, , andNonnegativity of forces . If the solution remains valid towards the past, its positive branch must thus end in within that time; a positive scale factor extending further would contradict the inequality. HenceThis argument presumes an expanding branch and the stated energy condition throughout it, rather than proving either assumption.
There are two relevant failures of the naive numerical bound. The supplied ten-billion-year Hubble time is an approximate observational input: a smaller inferred present expansion rate gives a larger Hubble time, and comparison with stellar ages must include these uncertainties. More decisively, a positive cosmological constant, or other dark energy with sufficiently negative pressure, has and permits accelerated expansion, so the concavity assumption fails. Observations of acceleration therefore remove this particular upper-bound argument. This is a discussion of the supplied historical estimate, not an assertion that its numerical value is a current measurement.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ii Paper 1 10D a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
A comoving coordinate labels a galaxy carried by the homogeneous cosmological flow. Its physical separation at time is , where is the scale factor. Thus , the Hubble law, apart from peculiar velocities relative to this flow. In particular
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ib Paper 4 8D b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Keep the original four-node interpolation polynomial . The correction must vanish at all four original nodes, so a degree-at-most-four interpolant has the formSince and the product at is , matching the new value gives , hence . Expanding yieldsIt takes the values at the five nodes. The same root-count argument proves uniqueness of this interpolation polynomial.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ib Paper 4 8D a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
The successive divided differences for nodes areThus the Newton interpolation polynomial isExpanding the products gives the power formThe four values verify the data. Uniqueness follows because the difference of two degree-at-most-three interpolants would have four distinct roots.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ib Paper 4 6B b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
For a normalized wavefunction in the required operator domains and a self-adjoint operator , its expectation value and standard deviation areEquivalently the squared uncertainty is , which is visibly nonnegative. Since the expectation value of a self-adjoint operator is real, expansion of the square and giveFor a state not normalized to one, divide each defining expectation integral by before using this formula.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ib Paper 4 6B a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
For a normalized wavefunction, the probability density and probability current areThe Schrödinger equation and its conjugate, for a real potential, areMultiplying respectively by and and adding their expressions for the time derivatives cancels the potential terms. HenceThe gradient cross-terms cancel when expanding the divergence. ThereforeThis continuity equation expresses local conservation of probability. Integrating over a region says that its probability decreases by the outward flux of the probability current.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ib Paper 4 17B d Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Event is the chosen origin. At , the leading-end world line reaches , soThe Lorentz transformation givesFor example . The squared spatial separation minus squared time separation isequally in the other frame. Thus and have spacelike separation.
In the barn frame, for the trailing end has entered while the leading end has not yet exited, so the whole javelin is inside at each simultaneous time slice. In the javelin frame the barn is shorter than the javelin and there is no simultaneous slice on which it contains the whole javelin. Also precedes there. This is consistent because relativity of simultaneity changes which endpoint events are simultaneous; the ordering of events with spacelike separation is not invariant. The physical intersections of the four world lines are the same in both diagrams.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ib Paper 4 17B c Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Choose the barn entrance as , its exit as , and the positive direction as the javelin's motion. Put at the trailing end entering the barn. Write and in metres. In the javelin frame let the trailing end have , the leading end , and use the same origin event. The Lorentz transformation isIn the barn frame, the four world lines areIn the javelin frame they areThe two spacetime diagrams below use vertical time coordinates and horizontal spatial coordinates. Event labels refer to the same physical events in both panels; dashed lines show light-ray directions.
Javelin and barn world lines in the barn and javelin rest frames, with entry event A and exit event B
. Details. Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ib Paper 4 17B b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
In the javelin's rest frame, the barn moves at speed . Applying length contraction to its proper length givesThe lengths in the two frames use different pairs of simultaneous endpoint events.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ib Paper 4 17B a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
The Lorentz factor for isThe javelin's length at simultaneous barn-frame times follows from length contraction:Its proper length remains four metres.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ib Paper 4 15D b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Integrating the interval indicator givesThe convolution is the length of overlap of two intervals of length one whose centres differ by . Thus for , and zero otherwise. The convolution theorem givesFor this Fourier transform normalization, the Parseval identity says . Sincewe have . Substituting givesThe quotient at zero is understood by its continuous limit.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2006 ib Paper 4 15D a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
For example, it suffices to assume . Indeed the absolute double integral isThus Fubini's theorem permits interchange in the Fourier transform of the convolution. With ,Hence the convolution theorem in this normalization isThere is no extra in this formula; that factor belongs to the inverse transform and Parseval identity for the convention being used.
Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project
Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
Intro to OurBigBook
. Source. We have two killer features:
- topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculusArticles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
- a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
- a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.Figure 1. Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page. View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivativeVideo 2. OurBigBook Web topics demo. Source. - local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
- to OurBigBook.com to get awesome multi-user features like topics and likes
- as HTML files to a static website, which you can host yourself for free on many external providers like GitHub Pages, and remain in full control
Figure 2. You can publish local OurBigBook lightweight markup files to either OurBigBook.com or as a static website.Figure 3. Visual Studio Code extension installation.Figure 5. . You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally. Video 3. Edit locally and publish demo. Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension. - Infinitely deep tables of contents:
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact







