Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2023 / ii / Paper 4 / 29K / a / Solution

The stock tree has $S_0=5$, first-period values $6,4$, and terminal successors $7,5$ from $6$ and $5,3$ from $4$. When $r=1/6$, the risk-free growth factor is $R=7/6$. At the upper time-one node, investing $6$ in the risk-free asset produces $7$ at time two, while one share bought for $6$ produces only $7$ or $5$.

Use the following predictable self-financing portfolio. Hold nothing initially. If $S_1=6$, short one share and invest the proceeds $6$ in the risk-free asset; if $S_1=4$, continue to hold nothing. Its terminal payoff ison the upper branch, and zero on the lower branch. It costs zero, is never negative, and is positive with positive probability, so it is an arbitrage.

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.