Exercise · ZW-DIAGONALIZATION-010 · ★★★ Advanced

Is the \(90^\circ\) rotation, \(\begin{pmatrix}0&-1\\1&0\end{pmatrix}\), diagonalizable over \(\mathbb{R}\)?

Choose one option.

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  • B. No: \(\lambda^2+1=0\) has no real roots

Explanation

The characteristic polynomial is \(\lambda^2+1\), with no real roots, so there are no real eigenvectors. It is diagonalizable over \(\mathbb{C}\).

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Review the concept: Diagonalization

A square matrix \(A\) is diagonalizable if it is similar to a diagonal matrix \(D\), that is, if it can be written as an invertible matrix \(P\) times \(D\) times the inverse of \(P\).

\[A=PDP^{-1}\]

More practice problems: diagonalization

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