ISI MMath Solutions and Discussion 2020 : PMB

ISI MMath PMB 2020 Subjective Questions, solutions and discussions

Note: You must try the problems on your own before looking at the solutions. I have made the solutions so that you don’t have to join any paid program to get the solutions. After you have failed several times in your attempt to solve a question even with the hints provided, then only look at the solution to that problem. If you cannot solve a single question on your own then this exam is not for you. And if you like my work then please do share this among your friends and do comment below.  

Sorry, did not get time to post the hints. 

Question Paper ISI M.Math 2020 PMA Objective Questions Solutions and Discussions: Click Here

To view ISI MMATH 2019 solutions, hints, and discussions: Click Here

To view ISI MMATH 2018 solutions, hints, and discussions: Click Here

To view ISI MMATH 2017 solutions, hints, and discussions: Click Here

To view ISI MMATH 2016 solutions, hints, and discussions: Click Here

To view previous year’s question papers: Click Here

Problem 1.

(a) Let \{f_n\} be a sequence of continuous real-valued functions on [0,1] converging uniformly on [0,1] to a function f. Suppose for all n\geq 1 there exists x_n\in [0,1] such that f_n(x_n)=0. Show that there exists x\in [0,1] such that f(x)=0.

(b) Give an example of a sequence \{f_n\} of continuous real-valued functions on [0,\infty) converging uniformly on [0,\infty) to a function f, such that for each n\geq 1 there exists x_n\in [0,\infty) satisfying f_n(x_n)=0, but f satisfies f(x)\neq 0 for all x\in [0,\infty).

Topic: Real Analysis, Difficulty level: Medium

Full Solution

(a)

The segment [0,1] is compact. Hence, the sequence (x_n)_{n\geq 1} has a convergent subsequence:

    \[\lim_{k\to \infty}x_{n_k}=x\in [0,1].\]

The function f is continuous, since it is a uniform limit of continuous functions.

 

Let \epsilon>0. There exists N\geq 1 such that for all n\geq N

    \[\sup_{t\in [0,1]}|f_n(t)-f(t)|\leq \epsilon.\]

There exists K\geq 1 such that for all k\geq K n_k\geq N. Then we estimate

    \[|f(x_{n_k})|\leq |f(x_{n_k})-f_{n_k}(x_{n_k})|+|f_{n_k}(x_{n_k})|\leq \sup_{t\in [0,1]}|f(t)-f_{n_k}(t)|\leq \epsilon.\]

 

(b)

Let f_n(x)=e^{-x}-\frac{1}{n}, f(x)=e^{-x}. We have

    \[\sup_{x\geq 0}|f_n(x)-f(x)|=\frac{1}{n}\to 0, n\to\infty.\]

Also, f_n(\log(n))=0. However, f(x)>0 for all x\geq 0.

It follows that |f(x)|=\lim_{k\to\infty}|f(x_{n_k})|\leq \epsilon. Since \epsilon>0 is arbitrary, we deduce that f(x)=0.

Problem 2.

Let f:[0,1]\to \mathbb{R} be continuous function. Show that

    \[\lim_{n\to\infty}\Pi^n_{k=1}\bigg(1+\frac{1}{n}f\bigg(\frac{k}{n}\bigg)\bigg)=e^{\int^1_0 f(x)}dx\]

Topic: Real Analysis, Difficulty Level: Hard

Full Solution

The function f is bounded on [0,1]:

    \[C=\sup_{t\in [0,1]}|f(t)|<\infty.\]

Let n>\frac{2}{C}, so that for all t\in [0,1] \frac{|f(t)|}{n}<\frac{1}{2}.

 

We will use elementary inequality

    \[|\log(1+x)-x|\leq 2x^2, \ |x|\leq \frac{1}{2}.\]

Represent the product as

    \[\prod^n_{k=1}\left(1+\frac{1}{n}f\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)\right)=\exp\left(\sum^n_{k=1}\log\left(1+\frac{1}{n}f\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)\right)\right).\]

We have an estimate

    \[\bigg|\sum^n_{k=1}\log\left(1+\frac{1}{n}f\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)\right)-\sum^n_{k=1}\frac{1}{n}f\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)\bigg|\leq\]

    \[\leq \sum^n_{k=1}\bigg|\log\left(1+\frac{1}{n}f\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)\right)-\frac{1}{n}f\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)\bigg|\leq 2\sum^n_{k=1}\frac{f(\frac{k}{n})^2}{n^2}\leq \frac{2C^2}{n}.\]

So,

    \[\sum^n_{k=1}\log\left(1+\frac{1}{n}f\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)\right)-\sum^n_{k=1}\frac{1}{n}f\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)\to 0, \ n\to\infty.\]

Taking into account the convergence

    \[\sum^n_{k=1}\frac{1}{n}f\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)\to \int^1_0 f(x)dx, \ n\to \infty\]

we deduce that

    \[\sum^n_{k=1}\log\left(1+\frac{1}{n}f\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)\right)\to \int^1_0 f(x)dx, \ n\to \infty,\]

and finally

    \[\prod^n_{k=1}\left(1+\frac{1}{n}f\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)\right)=\exp\left(\sum^n_{k=1}\log\left(1+\frac{1}{n}f\left(\frac{k}{n}\right)\right)\right)\to \exp\left(\int^1_0 f(x)dx\right),\ n\to\infty.\]

Problem 3.

(a) Let f: \mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R} be a twice continuously differentiable function. Show that

    \[\lim_{h\to 0}\frac{f(x+h)+f(x-h)-2f(x)}{h^2}=f''(x)\]

for all x\in \mathbb{R}.

(b) Show that if f further satisfies

    \[\frac{1}{2y}\int^{x+y}_{x-y}f(t)dt=f(x)\]

for all x\in \mathbb{R},y>0, then there exist a,b\in \mathbb{R} such that f(x)=ax+b for all x\in\mathbb{R}.

Topic: Real Analysis, Difficulty Level: Medium

Full Solution

(a)

We use Taylor’s expansion of f with the remainder in the integral form:

    \[f(x+h)=f(x)+hf'(x)+\int^{x+h}_x f''(y)(x+h-y)dy.\]

Then

    \[\frac{f(x+h)+f(x-h)-2f(x)}{h^2}=\]

    \[=\frac{1}{h^2}\bigg(f(x)+hf'(x)+\int^{x+h}_x f''(y)(x+h-y)dy+\]

    \[+f(x)-hf'(x)+\int^{x-h}_x f''(y)(x-h-y)dy-2f(x)\bigg)=\]

    \[=\frac{1}{h^2}\int^{x+h}_x f''(y)(x+h-y)dy+\frac{1}{h^2}\int^{x-h}_x f''(y)(x-h-y)dy=\]

    \[=\frac{1}{h^2}\int^{x+h}_x (f''(y)-f''(x))(x+h-y)dy+\frac{1}{h^2}\int^{x-h}_x (f''(y)-f''(x))(x-h-y)dy+f''(x)\]

We use continuity of second derivative: given \epsilon>0 there exists \delta>0 such that

    \[|z-x|\leq \delta \Rightarrow |f''(z)-f''(x)|\leq \epsilon.\]

Let |h|\leq \delta. Then

    \[\bigg|\frac{f(x+h)+f(x-h)-2f(x)}{h^2}-f''(x)\bigg|\leq\]

    \[\leq \frac{1}{h^2}\bigg|\int^{x+h}_x (f''(y)-f''(x))(x+h-y)dy\bigg|+\frac{1}{h^2}\bigg|\int^{x-h}_x (f''(y)-f''(x))(x-h-y)dy\bigg|\leq\]

since |x+h-y|\leq |h| and |x-h-y|\leq |h|

    \[\leq \frac{2}{h^2}\int^{x+|h|}_x \epsilon |h|dy=2\epsilon.\]

The convergence

    \[\lim_{h\to 0}\frac{f(x+h)+f(x-h)-2f(x)}{h^2}=f''(x)\]

is proved.

(b)

Differentiate the identity

    \[\frac{1}{2y}\int^{x+y}_{x-y}f(t)dt=f(x)\]

with respect to y:

    \[\frac{f(x+y)+f(x-y)}{2y}-\frac{1}{2y^2}\int^{x+y}_{x-y}f(t)dt=0.\]

It follows that

    \[f(x+y)+f(x-y)=\frac{1}{y}\int^{x+y}_{x-y}f(t)dt=2f(x)\]

and

    \[\frac{f(x+y)+f(x-y)-2f(x)}{y^2}=0.\]

Letting y\to 0 we deduce f''(x)=0. So f(x)=ax+b.

Problem 4.

Let f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R} be twice continuously differentiable function. Show that if f is bounded and f''(x)\geq 0 for all x\in \mathbb{R} then f must be constant.

Topic: Real Analysis, Difficulty Level: Medium

Full Solution

By assumption, the derivative of f is increasing. Assume there exists x_0\in \mathbb{R}, such that f'(x_0)>0. Then for all x>x_0

    \[f(x)=f(x_0)+\int^x_{x_0}f'(y)dy\geq f(x_0)+\int^x_{x_0}f'(x_0)dy=f(x_0)+(x-x_0)f'(x_0)\to \infty, \ x\to\infty.\]

It contradicts the fact that f is bounded.

 

Assume there exists x_0\in \mathbb{R}, such that f'(x_0)<0. Then for all x<x_0

    \[f(x)=f(x_0)-\int^{x_0}_{x}f'(y)dy\geq f(x_0)-\int^{x_0}_xf'(x_0)dy=f(x_0)+(x-x_0)f'(x_0)\to \infty, \ x\to-\infty.\]

Again it contradicts the fact that f is bounded. We deduce that f'(x)=0 and f is constant.

Problem 5.

Let J be a 2\times 2 real matrix such that J^2=-I, where I is the identity matrix

(a) Show that if v\in\mathbb{R}^2 and v\neq 0, then the vectors v,Jv\in\mathbb{R}^2 are linearly independent

(b) Show that there exists an invertible 2\times 2 real matrix U such that

    \[U JU^{-1}=\begin{pmatrix} 0&-1\\ 1&0 \end{pmatrix}\]

Topic: Multivariable Calculus, Difficulty Level: Medium

Full Solution

(a)

Assume there are scalars \alpha,\beta such that

    \[\alpha v+\beta Jv=0.\]

Apply J to this equality:

    \[\alpha Jv-\beta v=0.\]

From these two identities we get

    \[\alpha(\alpha v+\beta Jv)-\beta (\alpha Jv-\beta v)=(\alpha^2+\beta^2)v=0.\]

(b)

Let V be the matrix with the first column given by the vector v and the second column given by the vector Jv:

    \[V=\begin{pmatrix} v & Jv \end{pmatrix}.\]

V is invertible, since \{v,Jv\} is a basis of \mathbb{R}^2. Let U=V^{-1}. Then

    \[JV=\begin{pmatrix} Jv & J^2v\end{pmatrix} =\begin{pmatrix} Jv & -v\end{pmatrix}=\begin{pmatrix} v & Jv\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix} 0 & -1 \\ 1 & 0\end{pmatrix}=V\begin{pmatrix} 0 & -1 \\ 1 & 0\end{pmatrix}\]

So,

    \[UJU^{-1}=V^{-1}JV=\begin{pmatrix} 0 & -1 \\ 1 & 0\end{pmatrix}.\]

Since v\ne 0 we get \alpha^2+\beta^2=0, and \alpha=\beta=0. Linear independence of v and Jv are proved.

Problem 6.

Suppose V is a 3-dimensional real vector space and T:V\to V is a linear map such that T^3=0 and T^2\neq 0.

(a) Show that there exists a vector v\in V such that the set \{v,T(v),T^2(v)\} is a basis of V.

(b) Suppose S:V\to V is another linear map such that S^3=0 and S^2\neq 0. Show that there exists an invertible linear map U:V\to V such that S=UTU^{-1}.

Topic: Linear Algebra, Difficulty Level: Medium

Full Solution

(a)

Let v\in V be such that T^2v\ne 0. Assume the system \{v,T(v),T^2(v)\} is linearly dependent. Then there are scalars a,b,c such that

    \[av+bT(v)+cT^2(v)=0.\]

Apply T to this identity and use the fact T^3=0:

    \[aT(v)+bT^2(v)=0.\]

Apply T to this identity and use the fact T^3=0:

    \[aT^2(v)=0.\]

(b)

Let v\in V be such that \{v,T(v),T^2(v)\} is a basis of V. Let

    \[W=\begin{pmatrix}v & T(v) & T^2(v) \end{pmatrix}\]

be the matrix whose columns are given by vectors v,T(v),T^2(v). The matrix W is invertible. We have

    \[TW=\begin{pmatrix}T(v) & T^2(v) & 0 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix}v & T(v) & T^2(v) \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0\\ 0 & 1 &0 \end{pmatrix} =W \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0\\ 0 & 1 &0 \end{pmatrix}\]

It follows that

    \[W^{-1}TW=\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0\\ 0 & 1 &0 \end{pmatrix}\]

for some invertible matrix W.

 

If S is another linear map of V such that S^2\ne 0 and S^3=0, then for some invertible matrix Q we have

    \[Q^{-1}SQ=\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0\\ 0 & 1 &0 \end{pmatrix}\]

So,

    \[Q^{-1}SQ=W^{-1}TW\]

and

    \[S=UTU^{-1}\]

for U=QW^{-1}.

But T^2(v)\ne 0. So, a=0 and consequently b=0, c=0. Linear independence of \{v,T(v),T^2(v)\} is proved.

Problem 7.

Let K be a field, and let R be the ring K[x]. Let I\subset R be the ideal generated by (x-1)(x-2). Find all maximal ideals of the ring R/I.

Topic: Ring Theory, Difficulty Level: Hard

Full Solution

Consider the mapping f:K[x]\to K^2 given by

    \[f(P(x))=(P(1),P(2)).\]

f is a ring homomorphism. The kernel of f coincides with I. Indeed,

    \[f(P(x))=0 \Leftrightarrow P(1)=P(2)=0 \Leftrightarrow P(x)=Q(x)(x-1)(x-2)\Leftrightarrow P\in I.\]

Given a,b\in K consider P(x)=(b-a)x+(2a-b). Then

    \[f(P(x))=(P(1),P(2))=(a,b).\]

So, f maps K[x] onto K^2. By the isomorphism theorem, P/I is isomorphic to K^2. Consider a maximal ideal J of K^2. J\ne \{(0,0)\}. Consider arbitrary nonzero (a,b)\in J. Then

    \[(a,0)=(1,0)(a,b)\in J, \ (0,b)=(0,1)(a,b)\in J.\]

If a\ne 0 and b\ne 0, then (1,0),(0,1)\in J and J=K^2. In this case J is not a maximal ideal. So, either

J=\{0\}\times K or J=K\times \{0\}.

 

Conclusion. There are two maximal ideals in R/I. One is generated by (x-1), another is generated by (x-2).

Problem 8.

Let G be a finite group, and let H be a normal subgroup of G, Let P be a Sylow p-subgroup of H

(a) Show that for all g\in G, there exists h\in H such that gPg^{-1}=hPh^{-1}.

(b) Let N=\{g\in G \mid gPg^{-1}=P\}. Let HN be the set HN=\{hn \mid h\in H,n\in N\}. Show that G=HN.

Topic: Group Theory, Difficulty Level: Easy

Full Solution

(a)

Let g\in G. H is a normal subgroup of G, so

    \[gPg^{-1}\subset gHg^{-1}\subset H.\]

It follows that gPg^{-1} is a subgroup of H.

But |gPg^{-1}|=|P| and gPg^{-1} is a Sylow p-subgroup of H. By Sylow theorem, P and gPg^{-1} are conjugate in H, i.e. there exists h\in H such that

    \[gPg^{-1}=hPh^{-1}.\]

(b)

Let g\in G. There exists h\in H such that

    \[gPg^{-1}=hPh^{-1}.\]

Then

    \[(h^{-1}g)P(h^{-1}g)^{-1}=P.\]

So,

    \[n=h^{-1}g\in N\]

and

    \[g=hn\in HN.\]

Equality G=HN is proved.

To view ISI MMATH 2019 solutions, hints, and discussions: Click Here

To view ISI MMATH 2018 solutions, hints, and discussions: Click Here

To view ISI MMATH 2017 solutions, hints, and discussions: Click Here

To view ISI MMATH 2016 solutions, hints, and discussions: Click Here

To view previous year’s question papers: Click Here

5 Comments

  • Here is a less elegant solution to Problem 4 which does not require integration:

    We first show that f'' is identically zero. Suppose f''(c)>0 for some real number c. Since f'' is continuous, there is an open interval J containing c such that f''(x)>0 for all x \in J. Thus, f' is strictly increasing on J. Let x_1,x_2 \in J with x_1<x_2. Then f'(x_1)<f'(x_2).
    By Taylor's Theorem, there is d \in (x_1,x_2) such that

        \[f(x_2)-f(x_1)=(x_2-x_1)f'(x_1)+\frac{(x_2-x_1)^2}{2}f''(d).\]

    Noting that f'(x_1)<f'(d)<f'(x_2), \frac{f(x_2)-f(x_1)}{x_2-x_1}=f'(x_1)+\frac{(x_2-x_1)}{2}f''(d)f'(d).Hencef”(x)=0for every real numberx. This impliesf(x)=Ax+BwhereA,Bare real constants. Sincefis bounded, we must haveA=0. Hencef$ is a constant function.

  • I am a little confused about Problem 3 part (a). It can be solved using only L-Hopital’s Rule without using continuity of second derivative. Is there any reason that hypothesis was included?

  • Please solve CMI msc math previous year paper

Leave a Reply