Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-linear-algebra-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2021/1/b/solution
Past exam of the linear algebra course of the University of Oxford 2021 1 b Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-25
Subtract the identity matrix and putDirect matrix multiplication givesFor the last equality, each column of is a multiple of , and . Thus is a nilpotent matrix. The minimal polynomial of divides and equals , where is the nilpotency index of .
The first row of forces if , and its third row then forces . Conversely gives . If exactly one parameter is nonzero, then but . If both are nonzero, then while . Consequently the complete answer isNo lower power can annihilate the matrix in any of these cases, as the displayed nonvanishing matrix powers show.
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