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111Equation Chapter 1 Section 1If X and P are canonically-conjugate observables, we have,

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Using these relations 12, show that,

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Taylor expand the RHS of 13, but denote the Taylor coefficients as merely C n. these coefficients “come from” F,

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Now: compute , and realize something that can be handled by induction,

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Induction! Prove that if is true, then is also true,

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Thus, it is true that , and we use this formula in the Taylor series 14 to write,

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Make a statement about the existence of an operator that effects infinitesimal translations, , which is defined by its
action on a position eigenket, and its representation is given,

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We justify the representation given in 111 by pointing out that , as defined, has the properties of 1) being unitary 2)
the additivity of the transformation parameters 3) 1
. For dx being
arbitrarily small, note,

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The third property is easy to see. Now, use these three properties to define a finite translation operator. Represent an

infinitesimal translation “amount” dx by , use property 113 “infinity times” and you get,

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We want now to prove . Consider the position-eigenrelation, and expand it in the position-eigenbasis,

and then front-multiply by the bra , and invoke the third postulate of quantum mechanics,

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Given all of this, we are ready to prove 110. Consider the true statements: is given by the

good ol’ Taylor series expansion from freshman calculus, and also , from 114,

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Fact: for two polynomials ; that is, two equal polynomials have equal coefficients.

Considering to be terms of a polynomial, we get the equality from 116 where the sums go away,

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1
Sakurai, J.J. Modern Quantum Mechanics, p. 43.
From 117 for n = 1, we get the true statement . Let , so that , and,

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For , as proposed in 118, the ODE 119 is solved in fullest generality.

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