This document contains 43 questions about linear algebra concepts such as invariant subspaces, eigenvalues/eigenvectors, diagonalizability, projections, and direct sums. The questions cover topics like proving properties of invariant subspaces, restrictions of operators to subspaces, relationships between minimal and characteristic polynomials, and representing operators as sums of diagonalizable and nilpotent components.
This document contains 43 questions about linear algebra concepts such as invariant subspaces, eigenvalues/eigenvectors, diagonalizability, projections, and direct sums. The questions cover topics like proving properties of invariant subspaces, restrictions of operators to subspaces, relationships between minimal and characteristic polynomials, and representing operators as sums of diagonalizable and nilpotent components.
This document contains 43 questions about linear algebra concepts such as invariant subspaces, eigenvalues/eigenvectors, diagonalizability, projections, and direct sums. The questions cover topics like proving properties of invariant subspaces, restrictions of operators to subspaces, relationships between minimal and characteristic polynomials, and representing operators as sums of diagonalizable and nilpotent components.
This document contains 43 questions about linear algebra concepts such as invariant subspaces, eigenvalues/eigenvectors, diagonalizability, projections, and direct sums. The questions cover topics like proving properties of invariant subspaces, restrictions of operators to subspaces, relationships between minimal and characteristic polynomials, and representing operators as sums of diagonalizable and nilpotent components.
Q 1 Suppose T ∈ L(V ). Prove that if U1 , . . . , Um are subspaces of V invariant under T ,
then U1 + · · · + Um is invariant under T .
Q 2 Prove or give a counterexample: if U is a subspace of V that is invariant under every
operator on V , then U = {0} or U = V .
Q 3 Suppose that S, T ∈ L(V ) are such that ST = T S. Prove that null(T − λI) is invariant under S for every λ ∈ F .
Q 4 Define T ∈ L(F2 ) by T (w, z) = (z, w) . Find all eigenvalues and eigenvectors of T .
Q 5 Find all eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the backward shift operator T ∈ L(F∞ ) defined by T (z1 , z2 , z3 , . . . ) = (z2 , z3 , . . . ).
Q 6 Suppose T ∈ L(V ) and dim range T = k. Prove that T has at most k + 1 distinct eigenvalues.
Q 7 Suppose T ∈ L(V ) is invertible and λ ∈ F \ {0}. Prove that λ is an eigenvalue of T
if and only if λ1 is an eigenvalue of T −1 .
Q 8 Suppose S, T ∈ L(V ) and S is invertible. Prove that if p ∈ P(F) is a polynomial,
then p(ST S −1 ) = Sp(T )S −1 .
Q 9 Suppose F = C, T ∈ L(V ), p ∈ P(C), and a ∈ C. Prove that a is an eigenvalue of
p(T ) if and only if a = p(λ) for some eigenvalue λ of T .
Q 10 Suppose V is a complex vector space and T ∈ L(V ). Prove that T has an invariant subspace of dimension j for each j = 1, . . . , dim V .
Q 11 Suppose that T ∈ L(V ) has dim V distinct eigenvalues and that S ∈ L(V ) has the same eigenvectors as T (not neccessarily with the same eigenvalues). Prove that ST = T S.
Q 12 Suppose T ∈ L(V ), m is a positive integer, and v ∈ V is such that T m−1 v 6= 0 but
T m v = 0. Prove that (v, T v, T 2 v, . . . , T m−1 v) is linearly independent.
Q 13 Suppose N ∈ L(V ) is nilpotent. Prove that 0 is the only eigenvalue of N .
Q 14 Prove that if T ∈ L(V ), then
V = null T n ⊕ range T n ,
where n = dim V
1 Q 15 Give an example of an operator on C4 whose characteristic polynomial equals (z − 7)2 (z − 8)2 .
Q 16 Suppose a0 , . . . , an1 ∈ C. Find the minimal and characteristic polynomials of the
operator on Cn whose matrix (with respect to the standard basis) is
Q 17 Let A be an n × n matrix with characteristic polynomial
f = (x − c1 )d1 . . . (x − ck )dk .
Show that c1 d1 + · · · + ck dk = trace(A).
Q 18 Let A and B be n × n matrices over the field F . The matrices AB and BA have the same characteristic values if (I − AB)−1 exists. Do they have the same characteristic polynomial? Do they have the same minimal polynomial?
Q 19 Let T be the linear operator on R2 , the matrix of which in the standard ordered basis is 1 −1 A= . 2 2
(a) Prove that the only subspaces of R2 invariant under T are R2 and the zero subspace.
(b) If U is the linear operator on C2 , the matrix of which in the standard ordered basis is A, show that U has 1-dimensional invariant subspaces.
Q 20 Let W be an invariant subspace for T . Prove that the minimal polynomial for the restriction operator TW divides the minimal polynomial for T , without referring to matrices.
Q 21 Let c be a characteristic value of T and let W be the space of characteristic vectors
associated with the characteristic value c. What is the restriction operator TW ?
Q 22 Let 0 1 0 A = 2 −2 2 . 2 −3 2 Is A similar over the field of real numbers to a triangular matrix? If so, find such a triangular matrix.
Q 23 Every matrix A such that A2 = A is similar to diagonal matrix.
Q 24 Let T be a diagonalizable linear operator on the n-dimensional vector space V , and
let W be a subspace which is invariant under T . Prove that the restriction operator TW is diagonalizable.
2 Q 25 Let T be a linear operator on a finite-dimensional vector space over a field of complex numbers. Prove that T is diagonalizable if and only if T is annihilated by some polynomial over C which has distinct roots.
Q 26 Let T be a linear operator on V . If every subspace of V is invariant under T , then
T is a scalar multiple of identity operator.
Q 27 Let T be the indefinite integral operator
Z x (T f )(x) = f (t)dt 0
on the space of continuous functions on the interval [0, 1]. Is the space of polynomial functions invariant under T ? The space of differentiable functions? The space of functions which vanish at x = 12 ?
Q 28 Let A be a 3 × 3 matrix with real entries. Prove that, if A is not similar over R to a triangular matrix, then A is similar over C to a diagonal matrix.
Q 29 True or false? If the triangular matrix A is similar to a diagonal matrix, then A is
already diagonal.
Q 30 Let V be the space of n × n matrices over F. Let A be a fixed n × n matrix over F.
Let T and U be the linear operators on V defined by
T (B) = AB U (B) = AB − BA.
(a) True or false? If A is diagonalizable (over F), then T is diagonalizable.
(b) True or false? If A is diagonalizable, then U is diagonalizable.
Q 31 Let V be a finite dimensional vector space and let W1 be any subspace of V . Prove that there is a subspace W2 of V such that V = W1 ⊕ W2 .
Q 32 Let V be a finite-dimensional vector space and let W1 , ..., Wk be subspaces of V such
that
V = W1 + ... + Wk and dimV = dimW1 + ... + dimWk .
Prove that V = W1 ⊕ ... ⊕ Wk .
Q 33 Find a projection E which projects R2 onto the subspace spanned by (1, −1) along the subspace spanned by (1, 2).
Q 34 If E1 and E2 are projections onto independent subspaces, then E1 +E2 is a projection.
True or false?
Q 35 If E is a projection and f is a polynomial, then f (E) = aI + bE. What are a and b
in terms of the coefficients of f ?
Q 36 True or false? If a diagonalizable operator has only the characteristics values 0 and 1, it is a projection.
3 Q 37 Let T be a linear operator on a finite-dimensional vector space V . Let R be the range of T and let N be the null space of T . Prove that R and N are independent if and only if V = R ⊕ N .
Q 38 Let T be a linear operator on V . Suppose V = W1 ⊕ W2 ⊕ · · · ⊕ Wk , where each Wi
is invariant under T . Let Ti be the induced (restriction) operator on Wi .
(b) Prove that the characteristic polynomial for T is the product of the characteristic polynomials for T1 , T2 , . . . , Tk .
(c) Prove that the minimal polynomial for T is the least common multiple of the minimal polynomial for T1 , T2 , . . . , Tk . (Hint: Prove and then use the corresponding facts about direct sum of matrices.)
Q 39 Let T be the diagonalizable linear operator on R3 , which is represented in the stan-
dard ordered basis by the matrix 5 −6 −6 A = −1 4 2 . 3 −6 −4
Use the Lagrange polynomials to write the matrix A in the form A = E1 +2E2 , E1 +E2 = I, E1 E2 = 0.
Q 40 Let T be a linear operator on V which commutes with every projection operator on
V . What can you say about T ?
Q 41 Let T be a linear operator on R3 , which is represented in the standard ordered basis
by the matrix 6 −3 −2 4 −1 −2 . 10 −5 −3
Express the minimal polynomial p for T in the form p = p1 p2 , where p1 and p2 are monic and irreducible over the field of real numbers. Let Wi be the nullspace of pi (T ). Find bases Bi for the spaces W1 and W2 . If Ti is the operator induced on Wi by T , find the matrix of Ti in the basis Bi .
Q 42 Let T be a linear operator on R3 , which is represented by the matrix
3 1 −1 2 2 −1 , 2 2 0
in the standard ordered basis. Show that there is a diagonalizable operator D on R3 and a nilpotent operator N on R3 such that T = D + N and DN = N D. Find the matrices of D and N in the standard basis.
Q 43 If V is the space of all polynomials of degree less than or equal to n over a field F , prove that the differentiation operator on V is nilpotent.
4 Q 44 Let T be a linear operator on the finite-dimensional space V with characteristic polynomial f = (x − c1 )d1 (x − c2 )d2 . . . (x − ck )dk and minimal polynomial
p = (x − c1 )r1 (x − c2 )r2 . . . (x − ck )rk .
Let Wi be the nullspace of (T − ci I)ri .
(a) Prove that Wi is the set of all vectors α in V such that (T − ci I)m α = 0 for some positive integer m (which may depend upon α).
(b) Prove that the dimension of Wi is di .
Q 45 Let V be a finite-dimensional vector space over the field F , and let T be a linear operator on V such that rank(T ) = 1. Prove that either T is diagonalizable or T is nilpotent, not both.
Q 46 Let V be a finite-dimensional vector space over the field F , and let T be a linear operator on V . Suppose that T commutes with every diagonalizable linear operator on V . Prove that T is a scalar multiple of the identity operator.
Q 47 Let V be the space of n × n matrices over the field F , and let A be a fixed n × n matrix over F . Define a linear operator T on V by T (B) = AB − BA. Prove that if A is a nilpotent matrix, then T is a nilpotent operator.
Q 48 Give an example of two 4 × 4 nilpotent matrices which have the same minimal polynomial (they necessarily have the same characteristic polynomial), but which are not similar.
Q 49 Let T be a linear operator on V with minimal polynomial of the form pn , where
p is irreducible over the scalar field. Show that there is a vector α in V such that the T -annihilator of α is pn .
Q 50 Use the primary decomposition theorem and the result of Q 49 to prove the following. If T is any linear operator on a finite-dimensional vector space V , then there is a vector α in V with T -annihilator equal to the minimal polynomial for T .
Q 51 If N is a nilpotent linear operator on an n-dimensional vector space V , then prove
that the characteristic polynomial for N is xn .
Q 52 Let T be the linear operator on F 2 which is represented in the standard ordered
basis by the matrix 0 0 . 1 0 Let α1 = (0, 1). Show that F 2 6= Z(α1 ; T ) and that there is no non-zero vector α2 in F 2 with Z(α2 ; T ) disjoint from Z(α1 ; T ).
Q 53 Let T be a linear operator on the finite-dimensional space V , and let R be the range of T . (a) Prove that R has a complementary T -invariant subspace if and only if R is independent of the nullspace N of T .
5 (b) If R and N are independent, prove that N is the unique T -invariant subspace comple- mentary to R.
Q 54 Let T be a linear operator on R3 , which is represented in the standard ordered basis
by the matrix 2 0 0 1 2 0 . 0 0 3 Let W be the nullspace of T − 2I. Prove that W has no complementary T -invariant subspace. (Note: Let β = e1 and observe that (T − 2I)β is in W . Prove that there is no α in W with (T − 2I)β = (T − 2I)α.)
Q 55 Find the minimal polynomials and the rational forms of each of the following real matrices. 0 −1 −1 c 0 −1 1 cos θ sin θ 0 0 , 0 c 1 , . − sin θ cos θ −1 0 0 −1 1 c Q 56 Let A be the real matrix 1 3 3 A= 3 1 3 . −3 −3 −5
Find an invertible 3 × 3 real matrix P such that P −1 AP is in rational form.
Q 57 Let F be a subfield of the complex numbers and let T be the linear operator on F 4 which is represented in the standard ordered basis by the matrix 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 a 2 0 0 0 b 2 Find the characteristic polynomial for T . Consider the cases a = b = 1; a = b = 0; a = 0, b = 1. In each of these cases, find the minimal polynomial for T and non-zero vectors α1 , α2 , ..., αr which satisfy Cyclic Decomposition Theorem.
Theorem 1 (Cyclic Decomposition Theorem) Let T be a linear operator on a finite-
dimensional vector space V and let Wo be a proper T −admissable subspace of V . There exist non zero vectors α1 , α2 , ..., αr in V wth respective T −annihilators p1 , p2 , ..., pr such that 1. V = Wo ⊕ Z(α1 ; T ) ⊕ Z(α2 ; T ) ⊕ ... ⊕ Z(αr ; T ); 2. pk divides pk−1 , k = 2, 3, ..., r. Furthermore, the integer r and the annihilators p1 , p2 , ..., pr are uniquely determined by (a), (b) and the fact that no αk is 0.
Q 58 Prove that if A and B are 3 × 3 matrices over the field F , a necessary and sufficient conditions that A and B be similar over F is that they have the same characteristic poly- nomial and the same minimal polynomial. Give an example which shows that this is false for 4 × 4 matrices.
6 Q 59 Let F be a subfield of the field of complex numbers, and let A and B be n × n matrices over F . Prove that if A and B are similar over the field of complex numbers, then they are similar over F . (Hint: Prove that the rational form of A is the same whether A is viewed as a matrix over F or a matrix over C; likewise for B.)
Q 60 Let T be a linear operator on the finite-dimensional space V . Prove that there exists a vector a in V with this property. If f is a polynomial and f (T )α = 0, then f (T ) = 0, (Such a vector (Y is called a separating vector for the algebra of polynomials in T .) When T has a cyclic vector, give a direct proof that any cyclic vector is a separating vector for the algebra of polynomials in T .
Q 61 Let A be an n × n matrix with real entries such that A2 + I = 0. Prove that n is
even, and if n = 2k,then A is similar over the field of real numbers to a matrix of the block form 0 −I I 0 where I is the k × k identity matrix.
Q 62 Let T be a linear operator on a finite dimensional vector space V . Suppose that
1. the minimal polynomial for T is a power of an irreducible polynomial;
2. the minimal polynomial is equal to characteristic polynomial.
Show that no non-trivial T-invariant subspace has a complementary T − invariant subspace.
Q 63 If T is a diagonolizable linear operator, then every T −invariant subspace has a
complementary T −invariant subspace.
Q 64 Let N1 and N2 be 3 × 3 nilpotent matrices over the field F . Prove that N1 and N2 are similar if and only if they have same minimal polynomial.
Q 65 If A is a complex 5 × 5 matrix with characteristic polynomial
f = (x − 2)3 (x + 7)2
and minimal polynomial p = (x − 2)2 (x + 7), what is the Jordan form of A?
Q 66 How many possible Jordan forms are there for a 6 × 6 complex matrix with charac- teristic polynomial (x + 2)4 (x − 1)2 ?
Q 67 The differentiation operator on the space of polynomials of degree less than or equal to 3 is represented in the natural ordered basis by the matrix 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
What is the Jordan form of this matrix? (F a subfield of the complex numbers.)
Q 69 If A is an n × n matrix over the field F with characteristic polynomial
f = (x − c1 )d1 · · · (x − ck )dk
what is the trace of A?
Q 70 Classify up to similarity all 3 × 3 complex matrices A such that A3 = I.
Q 71 Classify up to similarity all n × n complex matrices A such that An = I.
Q 72 Let n be a positive integer, n ≥ 2, and Let N be an n × n matrix over the field F
such that N n = 0 but N n−1 6= 0. Prove that N has no square root, i.e., that there is no n × n matrix A such that A2 = N .
Q 73 If N is k × k elementary nilpotent matrix, i.e., N n = 0 but N n−1 6= 0, show that
N t is similar to N . Now use the Jordan form to prove that every complex n × n matrix is similar to its transpose.
Q 74 Whats wrong with the following proof? If A is a complex n × n matrix such that At = −A, then A is 0. Proof: Let J be the Jordan form of A. Since At = −A, J t = −J. But J is triangular so that J t = −J implies that every entry of J is zero, Since J = 0 and A is similar to J, we see that A = 0. Give example of a non zero A such that At = −A
Q 75 If N is a nilpotent 3 × 3 matrix over C, prove that A = I + 21 N − 18 N 2 satisfies
1 A2 = I + N , i.e., A is a square root of I + N . Use binomial series for (1 + t) 2 to obtain a similar formula for a square root of I + N , where N is any n × n matrix over C.
