Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-linear-algebra-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2023/1/a/i/solution

The primary decomposition theorem for linear maps starts with a linear map on a finite-dimensional vector space over a field . Factor its minimal polynomial as
where the are distinct monic polynomials that are irreducible polynomials and . Define . Then
Thus the direct sum separates the irreducible polynomial factors into uniquely determined invariant subspaces. The statement works even when the minimal polynomial does not split into linear polynomials over .

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