Mathematics 2024 Paper II 50 marks Prove

Paper II — Q2

(a) Using Cauchy's general principle of convergence, examine the convergence of the sequence < fₙ >, where fₙ = 1 + 1/1! + 1/2! +…

(a)

Using Cauchy's general principle of convergence, examine the convergence of the sequence < fₙ >, where fₙ = 1 + 1/1! + 1/2! + ... + 1/n!.

15 marks

(b)

Show that every homomorphic image of an abelian group is abelian, but the converse is not necessarily true.

15 marks

(c)

Find the function which is analytic inside and on the circle C : z = e^(iθ), 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2π and has the value

(a² - 1) cos θ + i(a² + 1) sin θ ────────────────────────────── a⁴ - 2a² cos 2θ + 1

on the circumference of C, where a² > 1.

20 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
(a)

कोशी के अभिसरण के व्यापक (जनरल) सिद्धांत का उपयोग करते हुए, अनुक्रम < fₙ > के अभिसरण की जाँच कीजिए, जहाँ fₙ = 1 + 1/1! + 1/2! + ... + 1/n! ।

15 अंक

(b)

दर्शाइए कि एक अबेली समूह का प्रत्येक समाकारी प्रतिबिंब अबेली है, लेकिन इसका विपरीत आवश्यक रूप से सत्य नहीं है ।

15 अंक

(c)

वह फलन ज्ञात कीजिए जो कि वृत्त C : z = e^(iθ), 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2π, के अंदर तथा उसके ऊपर विश्लेषिक है और C की परिधि पर जिसका मान

(a² - 1) cos θ + i(a² + 1) sin θ ────────────────────────────── a⁴ - 2a² cos 2θ + 1

है, जहाँ a² > 1 है ।

20 अंक

Q2 of the 2024 UPSC Mains Mathematics Paper II, as printed
The question as printed in the 2024 Mathematics paper

Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the expected length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

(a) Let fₙ = 1 + 1/1! + 1/2! + ... + 1/n! = Σ from k=0 to n of 1/k!. By Cauchy’s general principle of convergence, we must show that for every ε > 0 there exists N such that |f_m − f_n| < ε whenever m > n ≥ N.

Assume m > n. Then |f_m − f_n| = Σ from k=n+1 to m of 1/k!. For k ≥ 1, k! = 1·2·3...k ≥ 2^(k−1), so 1/k! ≤ 1/2^(k−1). Hence |f_m − f_n| ≤ Σ from k=n+1 to ∞ of 1/2^(k−1) = 1/2^(n−1).

Given ε > 0, choose N such that 1/2^(N−1) < ε. Then for all m > n ≥ N, |f_m − f_n| ≤ 1/2^(n−1) ≤ 1/2^(N−1) < ε. Thus the sequence is Cauchy and therefore convergent. Its limit is the series sum e = Σ from k=0 to ∞ of 1/k!.

(b) Let G be an abelian group and let φ : G → H be a homomorphism. Its homomorphic image is φ(G). Take any u, v ∈ φ(G). Then there exist x, y ∈ G such that u = φ(x), v = φ(y). Since G is abelian, xy = yx. Therefore uv = φ(x)φ(y) = φ(xy) = φ(yx) = φ(y)φ(x) = vu. So every pair of elements of φ(G) commutes. Hence every homomorphic image of an abelian group is abelian.

The converse is not necessarily true. Take G = S₃, the symmetric group on three symbols, which is non-abelian, for example (12)(23) ≠ (23)(12). Define the sign homomorphism sgn : S₃ → {1, −1}. Its image is {1, −1}, which is cyclic of order 2 and hence abelian. Thus a non-abelian group can have an abelian homomorphic image. Therefore the converse fails.

(c) Put z = e^(iθ) on the circle C. Then cos θ = (z + z⁻¹)/2, sin θ = (z − z⁻¹)/(2i), cos 2θ = (z² + z⁻²)/2.

The given boundary value is W(θ) = [(a² − 1) cos θ + i(a² + 1) sin θ] / [a⁴ − 2a² cos 2θ + 1].

Simplify the numerator: (a² − 1) cos θ + i(a² + 1) sin θ = (a² − 1)(z + z⁻¹)/2 + (a² + 1)(z − z⁻¹)/2 = a² z − z⁻¹.

Now simplify the denominator: a⁴ − 2a² cos 2θ + 1 = a⁴ − a²(z² + z⁻²) + 1 = (a² − z²)(a² − z⁻²).

Therefore, on C, W(θ) = (a² z − z⁻¹) / [(a² − z²)(a² − z⁻²)] = z / (a² − z²).

Thus the required analytic function is f(z) = z/(a² − z²).

Since a² > 1, the zeros of the denominator are z = ±a, and |a| > 1, so they lie outside the unit circle C. Hence f(z) is analytic inside and on C. By the uniqueness theorem for analytic functions, this is the required function.

Check independently: for z = e^(iθ), f(e^(iθ)) = 1/(a² e^(−iθ) − e^(iθ)) = [(a² − 1) cos θ + i(a² + 1) sin θ] / [(a² − 1)² cos²θ + (a² + 1)² sin²θ], and the denominator equals a⁴ − 2a² cos 2θ + 1. Hence it matches the given boundary value exactly.

What "Prove" is asking you to do

Establish that the statement holds for every case it claims, not for one representative case. The argument must be closed: each line follows from a definition, a hypothesis, or a named theorem you are entitled to use.

Structure that answers it

Given and to prove, restated → theorem or construction to be used, named → the argument line by line → conclusion stated as proved

Where marks are lost

Testing one example, which illustrates but proves nothing. On an if and only if claim, proving one direction and stopping forfeits that half outright, and degenerate cases — zero, the empty set, the equality case — have to be disposed of rather than assumed away.

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How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

(a) examine: intro > how/why with reasoning > evidence > conclusion | (b) justify: claim > 3-4 reasons > evidence > conclusion | (c) calculate: given > formula > substitution > result with units > interpretation Full marks: Rigorous application of theorems with complete derivations and clear counterexamples.

Key points expected

  • State Cauchy's general principle of convergence
  • Consider the difference f_{n+p} - f_n
  • Apply the inequality 1/k! < 1/2^{k-1} for k >= 2
  • Show the difference is less than epsilon for large n
  • Let G be abelian and f: G -> H be a homomorphism
  • Show f(xy) = f(yx) for all x, y in G
  • Conclude the image f(G) is abelian
  • Provide a counterexample where H is abelian but G is not

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. (a) Prove convergence of the sequence <f_n> using Cauchy's general principle. 15 marks

    examine— intro → how/why with reasoning → evidence → conclusion

    Must cover

    • State Cauchy's general principle of convergence
    • Consider the difference f_{n+p} - f_n
    • Apply the inequality 1/k! < 1/2^{k-1} for k >= 2
    • Show the difference is less than epsilon for large n

    Loses marks

    • Using the ratio test without mentioning Cauchy's principle
    • Failing to bound the tail sum of the series

    Earns more

    • Explicitly define the sequence terms
    • Conclude the sequence is a Cauchy sequence
    • Mention the limit is e

    Extra mark

    • Alternative proof using the ratio test
  2. (b) Prove the homomorphic image of an abelian group is abelian and provide a counterexample for the converse. 15 marks

    justify— claim → 3-4 reasons → evidence → conclusion

    Must cover

    • Let G be abelian and f: G -> H be a homomorphism
    • Show f(xy) = f(yx) for all x, y in G
    • Conclude the image f(G) is abelian
    • Provide a counterexample where H is abelian but G is not

    Loses marks

    • Failing to prove the image is abelian
    • Providing a counterexample where the domain is abelian

    Earns more

    • Using the trivial homomorphism as the counterexample
    • Explicitly stating the definition of a homomorphism

    Extra mark

    • Mentioning the First Isomorphism Theorem
  3. (c) Find the analytic function f(z) given its boundary values on the unit circle. 20 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • Express the given boundary value in terms of z and z-bar
    • Simplify the denominator using trigonometric identities
    • Identify the analytic function f(z) = (az + 1)/(az - 1)
    • Verify the function is analytic inside the unit circle

    Loses marks

    • Failing to convert the trigonometric expression to complex form
    • Identifying the wrong analytic function

    Earns more

    • Showing the step-by-step algebraic simplification
    • Checking the condition a^2 > 1 for analyticity

    Extra mark

    • Using the Poisson integral formula as an alternative method

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