Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2011/ia/paper-1/8b/a/iii/solution

Choose real eigenvectors with distinct eigenvalues . Symmetry gives
Therefore , and . For complex choices, replace transpose by conjugate transpose; the reality proved in part (i) gives the same conclusion for the Hermitian inner product. Thus different eigenspaces are orthogonal.

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