Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2016/ib/paper-1/1f/a/solution

The characteristic polynomial of the given matrix is . Solving the two eigenvalue equations gives
For example, multiplying the matrix by these three vectors gives respectively , and times the original vector. The eigenvectors form a basis: the matrix with these columns has nonzero determinant . Thus an eigenbasis and its diagonal matrix are

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