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Cayley-Hamilton
Theorem

Given

(1)

(2)
then

(3)
where​ ​is the​ ​identity matrix​. Cayley verified this identity for​ ​and 3 and postulated that it was true
for all​ . For​ , direct verification gives

(4)

(5)
(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

so

(12)
The Cayley-Hamilton theorem states that an​ ​matrix​ ​is annihilated by its​characteristic polynomial​
, which is monic of degree​ .