Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2015/ii/paper-1/15f/a/solution

If the two-dimensional group representation were reducible, Maschke's theorem would split it into a direct sum of two one-dimensional group representations. In a basis respecting that decomposition, every representing matrix would be diagonal. All would therefore commute, contradicting the specified pair. Hence the group representation is irreducible. Complete reducibility over is essential to this argument.

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