Paper 1, Section II, G

Linear Algebra | Part IB, 2014

Let VV be an nn-dimensional real vector space, and let TT be an endomorphism of VV. We say that TT acts on a subspace WW if T(W)WT(W) \subset W.

(i) For any xVx \in V, show that TT acts on the linear span of {x,T(x),T2(x),,Tn1(x)}\left\{x, T(x), T^{2}(x), \ldots, T^{n-1}(x)\right\}.

(ii) If {x,T(x),T2(x),,Tn1(x)}\left\{x, T(x), T^{2}(x), \ldots, T^{n-1}(x)\right\} spans VV, show directly (i.e. without using the CayleyHamilton Theorem) that TT satisfies its own characteristic equation.

(iii) Suppose that TT acts on a subspace WW with W{0}W \neq\{0\} and WVW \neq V. Let e1,,eke_{1}, \ldots, e_{k} be a basis for WW, and extend to a basis e1,,ene_{1}, \ldots, e_{n} for VV. Describe the matrix of TT with respect to this basis.

(iv) Using (i), (ii) and (iii) and induction, give a proof of the Cayley-Hamilton Theorem.

[Simple properties of determinants may be assumed without proof.]

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