Math 40 Exercises (Diagonalization and Similarity)

1. Determine the eigenvalues and the associated eigenvectors of each of the following matrices.
Determine whether each matrix is diagonalizable. If diagonalizable, find a diagonal matrix
D and a nonsingular matrix P such that P −1 AP = D.
   
1 0 0 3 −2 1
a. A = −1 3 0  c. A = 0 2 0
3 2 −2 0 0 0
   
4 2 3 2 2 2
b. A =  2 1 2 d. A = 2 2 2
−1 −2 0 2 2 2

2. Consider the linear operator T : P1 → P1 with T (ax + b) = −bx − a. Is T diagonalizable?

Find, if possible, a basis for P1 with respect to which T is represented by a diagonal matrix.

3. Find a 3 × 3 nondiagonal matrix whose eigenvalues are −2, −2, and 3, and associated eigen-
vectors are (1, 0, 1), (0, 1, 1), and (1, 1, 1), respectively.

4. Prove that if A is diagonalizable, then (a) AT is diagonalizable, and (b) A2 is diagonalizable.

How about Ak for an integer k > 2?

5. Show that if A is nonsingular and diagonalizable then A−1 is diagonalizable.

6. Let A and B be nonsingular matrices. Prove that AB and BA have the same eigenvalues.