Let $A$ be the matrix given by
\[
A=
\begin{bmatrix}
-2 & 0 & 1 \\
-5 & 3 & a \\
4 & -2 & -1
\end{bmatrix}
\]
for some variable $a$. Find all values of $a$ which will guarantee that $A$ has eigenvalues $0$, $3$, and $-3$.
In each of the following cases, can we conclude that $A$ is invertible? If so, find an expression for $A^{-1}$ as a linear combination of positive powers of $A$. If $A$ is not invertible, explain why not.
(a) The matrix $A$ is a $3 \times 3$ matrix with eigenvalues $\lambda=i , \lambda=-i$, and $\lambda=0$.
(b) The matrix $A$ is a $3 \times 3$ matrix with eigenvalues $\lambda=i , \lambda=-i$, and $\lambda=-1$.
(a) Find all solutions of the linear dynamical system
\[\frac{\mathrm{d}\mathbf{x}}{\mathrm{d}t} =\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 0\\
0& 3
\end{bmatrix}\mathbf{x},\]
where $\mathbf{x}(t)=\mathbf{x}=\begin{bmatrix}
x_1 \\
x_2
\end{bmatrix}$ is a function of the variable $t$.
(b) Solve the linear dynamical system
\[\frac{\mathrm{d}\mathbf{x}}{\mathrm{d}t}=\begin{bmatrix}
2 & -1\\
-1& 2
\end{bmatrix}\mathbf{x}\]
with the initial value $\mathbf{x}(0)=\begin{bmatrix}
1 \\
3
\end{bmatrix}$.
Diagonalize the $2\times 2$ matrix $A=\begin{bmatrix}
2 & -1\\
-1& 2
\end{bmatrix}$ by finding a nonsingular matrix $S$ and a diagonal matrix $D$ such that $S^{-1}AS=D$.
Let $A$ be a $2\times 2$ real symmetric matrix.
Prove that all the eigenvalues of $A$ are real numbers by considering the characteristic polynomial of $A$.
Let $A$ and $B$ be $n\times n$ matrices and assume that they commute: $AB=BA$.
Then prove that the matrices $A$ and $B$ share at least one common eigenvector.
We fix a nonzero vector $\mathbf{a}$ in $\R^3$ and define a map $T:\R^3\to \R^3$ by
\[T(\mathbf{v})=\mathbf{a}\times \mathbf{v}\]
for all $\mathbf{v}\in \R^3$.
Here the right-hand side is the cross product of $\mathbf{a}$ and $\mathbf{v}$.
(a) Prove that $T:\R^3\to \R^3$ is a linear transformation.
(b) Determine the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of $T$.
Prove that the matrix
\[A=\begin{bmatrix}
0 & 1\\
-1& 0
\end{bmatrix}\]
is diagonalizable.
Prove, however, that $A$ cannot be diagonalized by a real nonsingular matrix.
That is, there is no real nonsingular matrix $S$ such that $S^{-1}AS$ is a diagonal matrix.
Consider the $2\times 2$ matrix
\[A=\begin{bmatrix}
\cos \theta & -\sin \theta\\
\sin \theta& \cos \theta \end{bmatrix},\]
where $\theta$ is a real number $0\leq \theta < 2\pi$.
(a) Find the characteristic polynomial of the matrix $A$.
(b) Find the eigenvalues of the matrix $A$.
(c) Determine the eigenvectors corresponding to each of the eigenvalues of $A$.
Consider the complex matrix
\[A=\begin{bmatrix}
\sqrt{2}\cos x & i \sin x & 0 \\
i \sin x &0 &-i \sin x \\
0 & -i \sin x & -\sqrt{2} \cos x
\end{bmatrix},\]
where $x$ is a real number between $0$ and $2\pi$.
Determine for which values of $x$ the matrix $A$ is diagonalizable.
When $A$ is diagonalizable, find a diagonal matrix $D$ so that $P^{-1}AP=D$ for some nonsingular matrix $P$.
A square matrix $A$ is called idempotent if $A^2=A$.
(a) Let $\mathbf{u}$ be a vector in $\R^n$ with length $1$.
Define the matrix $P$ to be $P=\mathbf{u}\mathbf{u}^{\trans}$.
Prove that $P$ is an idempotent matrix.
(b) Suppose that $\mathbf{u}$ and $\mathbf{v}$ be unit vectors in $\R^n$ such that $\mathbf{u}$ and $\mathbf{v}$ are orthogonal.
Let $Q=\mathbf{u}\mathbf{u}^{\trans}+\mathbf{v}\mathbf{v}^{\trans}$.
Prove that $Q$ is an idempotent matrix.
(c) Prove that each nonzero vector of the form $a\mathbf{u}+b\mathbf{v}$ for some $a, b\in \R$ is an eigenvector corresponding to the eigenvalue $1$ for the matrix $Q$ in part (b).