Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2024/ia/paper-1/7b/e/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ia Paper 1 7B e Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Eigenvectors belonging to distinct eigenvalues are linearly independent. Indeed, supposeis a shortest nontrivial relation, where and the are distinct. Applying givesa shorter nontrivial relation, a contradiction.
Thus distinct eigenvalues provide a basis of eigenvectors, proving that is diagonalizable over . If is real and all its eigenvalues are real, each real singular matrix has a nonzero real null vector. Choosing one for each eigenvalue gives a real eigenbasis. Hence the real matrix is diagonalizable over . This is the distinct eigenvalues imply diagonalizability criterion.
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